Land dispute: Elechi threatens lawsuit against Rep

By PETER OKUTU

ABAKALIKI— GOVERNOR Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State weekend threatened to sue the member representing Abi/Yakurrr Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Bassey Ewa, over comments of allegedly sponsoring militants against the people of Adadama in Cross River State in a  land  related dispute.

The people of Adadama had in recent times been locked in a crisis over land ownership with Ikwo people of Ebonyi State, which has claimed several lives.

Elechi, who stated this during a town hall meeting organised by the state government when members of the Good Governance Tour team visited the state, described the allegation made by the Cross River State lawmaker as serious.

He said no amount of immunity should prompt a House of Representatives member to make such grave allegation without any evidence to substantiate his claim.

The governor added that during the court proceedings, he would insist on proofs by the House of Representatives member, warning that withdrawal of the case would come with penalties.

Elechi said: “Concerning the issue of a House of Reps member in Cross River accusing me of sponsoring militants against his people in his area, I have asked my lawyers to look into it because it is a serious allegation and no amount of impunity or rather immunity will excuse that and I will insist on a proof or else the withdrawal will come with necessary penalty.”

It will be recalled that on January 20, the member representing Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Bassey Ewa, had alleged that “from what I saw nobody can convince me that the Governor of Ebonyi did not sponsor those militants.”