Dr. Oscar Ofuka, the former special adviser to the Cross River State government on cocoa development and control, has tasked Governor Bassey Otu and the 10th State House of Assembly with recovering 32 hectares of state-owned cocoa plots that one Mark Prince Leku encroached on in violation of a court order.
Ofuka gave the charge when he reacted to allegations by some farm contractors that he was keeping mum even when he heard that legitimate cocoa farm contractors at Abonita Government Cocoa Estate had been chased away by Prince who claimed to be the original owner of the affected plots.
He warned that should the government fail to take up the invaders, it should expect more encroachment and possible takeover of more hectares of the estate by the host communities.
“There is a valid court order with Suit No. HM/73/2020 restraining him from taking over the 32 hectares. The state should seek redress in court for contempt.
“If that is not done definitely a precedent has been set up for any other person to rise up and take over the government land. If this persists, it would become the survival of the fittest,” he warned.
In his reaction, Leku said the plots in contention were his father’s farm land encroached upon by the state government some decades ago.
He said the 32 hectares originally belonged to his family, stressing that it was the government that released the cocoa plots to his family after he discovered some papers to the property.
Extortion: Gov Nwifuru Bans Transport Task Forces, Street Traders BY OBINNA OGBONNAYA, Abakaliki
Ebonyi State governor, Francis Nwifuru has banned all transportation task force groups over alleged extortion and intimidation of transporters by miscreants parading themselves as government agents.
Nwifuru also directed street traders within Abakaliki, the state capital to relocate to the Margret Umahi International Market, Abakaliki to stop the gridlock and ensure free flow of traffic and human movement around the areas.
The governor who gave the order in Abakaliki, through his senior special assistant on transport, Chief Fredrick Nwogbaga while inspecting the various motor parks in the state said that the development would reduce unwarranted accidents in the state capital.
“The ban of the task force is with immediate effect. We are doing this in the interest of the state and the people. The ban will help the state government streamline its activities. It will also help in putting to an end the activities of unscrupulous elements and miscreants in the transport sector of the state,” he said.
He said a new task force will soon be constituted that would help to oversee the transportation activities in the state.
Nwogbaga also inspected the over 40 unserviceable vehicles belonging to the Ebonyi State Transport Services (EBOTRANS) and promised that his office will soon brief the state governor on the condition of the vehicles so as to determine the next line of action.
He said the present administration will transform the state transport company into a viable agency and expressed optimism that the present government would give the transport corporation a facelift.
Nwogbaga, however, cautioned transporters across the state to avoid reckless driving and consider the safety of their lives and passengers, as well as other road users.
He urged illegal park operators across the state capital to relocate to the state government-approved central motor park and warned that anybody caught loading at the unauthorised motor parks would be arrested and his vehicle confiscated by the authority in charge.