An Onitsha-based businessman, Uzoeto Sabest, has condemned the “insensitivity, callousness, and high-handedness” of the Chairman of Onitsha South Local Government Area, Chief Emeka Orji, who, he alleged, demolished his buildings worth six hundred million naira (₦600m) at Silas Works Road, Onitsha, Anambra State.
Speaking to journalists at the site of the demolished buildings, Sabest, who was visibly emotional, called on Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to intervene and stop the Chairman from further encroaching on his property.
He refuted Chief Orji’s claim that he lacked legal documents for the land, insisting that he possesses a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), an approved building plan, and all other necessary documents.
Sabest further lamented that Chief Orji’s actions led to the destruction of buildings that housed numerous traders, many of whom are petty traders relying on the space for their livelihoods.
He expressed outrage that in demolishing the premises—worth over ₦600m—Orji not only rendered him homeless but also deprived traders of their means of survival, as their goods and wares were either destroyed or carted away by Orji’s men.
The businessman decried the fact that the demolition was carried out without due process, despite an ongoing court case between him and the Chairman over the land since 2023.
“Where is justice? Where do citizens seek refuge if they cannot rely on the courts for protection? This is anarchy in the making, and it will not end well for anyone,” Sabest lamented.
He recalled that Orji’s attempt to take over the land began in 2023, shortly after he was appointed as the Caretaker Chairman of the Local Government. According to him, Orji invited him to his office for discussions regarding the property. When he arrived, he was directed to a five-member committee, which reviewed his documents and confirmed their authenticity.
Despite this clearance, Orji’s men later pasted a removal notice on his property. However, when he approached the committee again, they assured him that there was no issue with his ownership.
Sabest narrated how he later received a call from a concerned woman who warned him about the Chairman’s intentions. She arranged a meeting with Orji, but upon entering his office, Orji abruptly left, stating that he had somewhere else to be.
In January 2025, Orji’s men once again marked his property for demolition. In response, Sabest’s lawyer wrote to the Chairman, copying relevant security agencies and reminding him that the matter was still in court.
However, according to Sabest, Orji boasted that he had the Governor’s backing and controlled the judiciary and security agencies in the state.
“I reached out to people close to him, but he kept boasting. On Monday, I visited the site and saw a crane. When I inquired, the driver said the Chairman had sent him,” he recounted.
Continuing, he added, “Someone from the Local Government called to warn me to leave the site immediately, as there was an order to eliminate me and frame me as an Unknown Gunman (UGM).”
Sabest said he left the site but continued receiving distress calls as Orji and his men demolished his structures. When he later returned, he witnessed the destruction firsthand.
“I have never seen anything like this in my life. A Local Government authority has no legal power to demolish private property. If my property was not legally owned, the Governor would have revoked my Certificate of Occupancy for overriding public interest,” he argued.
He appealed to Governor Soludo to intervene in the matter and restore his land.
According to Sabest, the demolished buildings contained 26 shops, 14 toilets and bathrooms, offices, a fence, and traders’ wares, amounting to losses worth about ₦700 million. He urged well-meaning individuals to prevail on Chief Orji and his associates to reconsider their actions.
However, in an earlier interview, Chief Orji claimed that the property lacked a Certificate of Occupancy and that Sabest had been given enough notice before the demolition.
Notably, Orji is also facing legal action from the UPJA Plank and Joinery Association, Bridgehead Onitsha, for demolishing their plaza. The association is demanding ₦700 million in compensation and a public apology.
Reacting to the controversy, the Secretary of Onitsha South Local Government Council, Mr. Paul Onuachala, stated that the land originally belonged to the Council and was designated for a primary healthcare project.
According to Onuachala, Sabest was aware that the land transaction was illegal before acquiring it.
He urged Sabest to be truthful about the property’s history and stop discrediting the Local Government Council.
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