Airport fence controversy: Enugu Govt demolishes businessman’s residence

Enugu State Government, on Friday, demolished a twin duplex belonging to one Mr John Emejulu, for allegedly blocking  waterway.
Mr Joseph Onoh, Chairman of ECTDA, who supervised the demolition, said that the building stood on waterway.
Recall that Emejulu had gone to airport layout phase IV and V to enforce a court judgement in respect of a hitherto disputed land measuring 400 plots.
In the course of the enforcement, he pulled down some pillars of perimeter fence of Akanu Ibiam International Airport which was affected by the court judgement.
The houses located at Eziokwe Street, Community Estate, off Nike Lake Resort Road, Trans Ekulu was demolished by officials of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA).
Onoh said that notice of violation served the victim by the Department of Building Inspection, ECTDA also stated that the structure violated building standard.
However, the owner of the property differed from the position of the state government.
Emejulu said that the twin duplex built in 2012 have a duly approved plan and did not stand on waterway.
He described the demolition of the property as a planned reprisal because of move to recover his landed property illegally sold by some government officials.
He said that prior to Aug. 12, he never received any notice of intent to demolish his property on the ground that it was built on waterway.
Emejulu wondered why the government singled out the structures for demolition on the pretext that it was built on waterway while other adjoining property in the neighborhood were not touched.
“After the August 12 incident, when I went to Airport Layout Phase IV and V to enforce a court judgement on my plots of land forcefully taken by the government and private individuals, I received a notice from ECTDA.
“They came to my house that evening and wrote, ”remove within 24 hours” on my fence. This morning they came with earthmoving equipment and demolished the house. I lost everything.
”They pasted a notice on the building and claimed that it is the third time they are serving me. Unfortunately, the date written with red paint on my wall is August 12,” he said.
Emejulu said that the demolition of his property was a clear indication that the government was chastising him and had a hand in the forceful takeover of his land.
He also pulled down perimeter fence of some private buildings illegally erected on the land while the doors and windows of some private houses were destroyed.