Man ‘Punished’ For Demolishing Enugu Airport’s Perimetre Fence As Gov’t Pulled Down His Building

Twin duplex buildings of Mr John Emejulu, an architect who recently pulled down a-2km part of the perimetre fence of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, were yesterday demolished in Enugu.

Mr Emejulu had claimed that the part he demolished was erected on the 400 plots of land he purchased in 2008 from Umuenwene Iji Nike community in Enugu East Local Government Area of the state.

The Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA), which carried out the demolition of the twin buildings, located at Eziokwe Street, Community Estate, off Nike Lake Resort road, Trans-Ekulu, Enugu, said they were sited on waterways, and that the action was not a reprisal.

THE WHISTLER reports that the demolition was carried out barely 24 hours after Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika visited the airport where he vowed that the action of Mr Emejulu would be punished by relevant authorities.

It was further gathered that the notice of violation served on the victim by the Department of Building Inspection (ECTDA) claimed that the structures violated building standards.Emejulu, in a reaction, told a media outfit that the twin duplexes, built in 2012, had an approved plan, hence did not stand on waterways. According to him, he never had any prior notice towards the demolition up until August 12, 2020. He also questioned why only his structures were singled out for the demolition.

He was quoted to have said, “After the incidence of August 12, 2020 when I had gone to Airport Layout Phase IV and V to enforce a court judgment 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 my house. I lost everything. They pasted a notice on my building, and claimed that it was the third time they were serving me. Unfortunately for them, the date they wrote with red paint on my wall is Aug. 12, 2020.”

It was gathered that the demolition of the airport fence by Mr Emejulu followed a court order which he obtained to that effect. It was reported that an Enugu State High Court had in 2017 given a judgment in favour of Emejulu pertaining to the expanse of land in Airport Road Layout, Phase IV and V, but the enforcement failed.

He however returned to court, where on the 3rd of June, 2020, Justice J. L. C. Okibe, ruling on suit no. E/165M/2020, compelled the commissioner of police, Enugu State, and the inspector general of police (IGP) to execute the court judgment.To this end, Emejulu, Wednesday, moved to the location with earthmoving equipment and demolished the portions of the fence affecting his land.