Reps committee halts development on disputed 2,500-hectare Imo land
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A House of Representatives committee has ordered an immediate stop to development on a disputed parcel in Ngor Okpala, Imo State, and directed that armed men allegedly in the area be disarmed. The petition alleges the illegal acquisition of more than 2,500 hectares of community land.
The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions has ordered an immediate halt to further development on a disputed parcel of land in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State and directed that armed men allegedly operating in the area be disarmed following allegations of land grabbing.
The directives followed a petition alleging the illegal acquisition of more than 2,500 hectares of land, shooting and attempted murder of villagers, invasion of communities by armed men, desecration of a corpse, abuse of police powers and breach of a memorandum of understanding.
The disputed land is said to belong to Umuoyere, Umundioche and Okwuruma villages in Obioma Autonomous Community, as well as Umueme in Obike Autonomous Community, all in Ngor Okpala. The committee acted on Petition No. 901 of 2026, filed by J.U. Okoye Chambers against Prince Charles Amadi, also known as Chavon, Chikadibia Anyanwu and Chidubem Nwosu; the petition also names HRH Eze Lambert Unuoha, the traditional ruler of Nma 1 of Obioma Autonomous Community, as a respondent.
Represented by the committee's Deputy Chairman, Rep. Matthew Nwogu, the chairman directed all parties to suspend activities on the disputed land until the matter was resolved, saying: "No more putting up caterpillars or bulldozers in that land." The committee said it had contacted the Department of State Services and the police over the source of the weapons, adding that both agencies denied supplying firearms to the men.
Counsel to Charles Farms Limited, identified during proceedings as a party to the dispute, maintained that his clients had legally acquired the land and had instituted legal proceedings against the petitioners, but acknowledged he had not brought the supporting court documents to the hearing; the committee demanded certified documentary evidence. Counsel to the petitioners said earlier petitions had been filed from July 17, 2026, and alleged the court action was intended to frustrate the committee's proceedings. The committee adjourned the matter until November 2026.