Imo Govt Embarks on Forensic Audit of all Land Documents, Suspends Approvals

Tony Icheku in Owerri

Ripples from the unceremonious sacking of Imo State Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Physical Planning, Noble Atulegwu, and the Special Adviser/General Manager of Imo Housing Corporation, Mbakwe Obi, are still spreading.

This is as the state governor, Hope Uzodimma,, Tuesday, approved the immediate forensic audit of all land documents which would be jumpstarted by suspension of approvals and issuance of building plans and Certificate of Occupancy by relevant government agencies.

In a related development, Gov. Uzodimma has inaugurated the small-claims court, a specialized court created by statute with specific duties and powers to provide a judicial resolution of disputes involving small amounts of money.

The Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mr. Cosmas Iwu, in a release stated that the governor approved the forensic audit of all land documents, including but not limited to, Building Plans and Certificate of Occupancy, effective January 2007 to December, 2023

The SSG added that anybody claiming to be in possession of such land documents purported to have been issued by the government or its agencies should submit three copies of the title deeds or any evidence to the office of the Secretary to the Government of Imo State within 21 days

“Although the Imo Housing Corporation is not authorised to either sell Government’s land or property or allocate any land to anyone, those who claimed to have documents of  land or property, purported to have been sold or allocated to them by the Corporation, should also submit three copies of such to the Office of the SSG  within 21 days.

“Finally, anyone who has built on any land designated by government as green verge or land for recreational purposes, claiming that such  land was allocated to him or her by any government agency should submit the evidence in three copies to the Office of the SSG of Imo State within 21 days”, the release stated, adding that those who fail to comply with the  notice of forensic audit will have such property  demolished

It will be recalled that Gov. Uzodimma relieved the Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Physical Planning, Noble Atulegwu, and the Special Adviser/General Manager of Imo Housing Corporation, Mbakwe Obi of their appointments unceremoniously almost a month ago with no reasons proffered for their sack.

However Government House sources alleged that the duo  were severally indicted in  petitions by individuals and communities to the governor alleging irregularities and lack of due process in land allocation and land grabbing by the officials of the Ministry

Imo State Chief Judge, Honourable Justice T.E. Chukwuemeka Chikeka, during the inauguration of the small claims court, explained that the procedure and rules of the court are simplified and the procedure is designed to be less expensive and faster than a traditional court or conventional method of justice delivery system which is cumbersome, time consuming and sometimes frustrating with backlogs of cases sandwiched with many other issues, which causes undue delay in cases that can be easily decided.

The Small Claims Court will be  regulated by the Imo State Magistrates Courts Law Practice Directions-  2023, which has designated some Magistrates as Small Claims Court and which came into effect on Ist December 2023.

According to Justice Chikeka, the, “Law indeed is dynamic as it grows daily and we must continue to update our knowledge to meet the changes that take place.

She disclosed that the Small Claims Court is not working alone, noting that Imo State has joined forces with the Enabling Business Environment Secretariat (EBES) of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) to create enabling environment for the success of this vision.