VINCENT UJUMADU

AWKA—HUNDREDS of indigenes of Awka, Anambra State, yesterday stormed the Magistrates Court premises in the state capital to protest the arraignment of four youths over alleged stealing and destruction of property.
The case was instituted by the state police command against the youths for allegedly stealing and destroying property worth millions of naira belonging to a property developer, Rockland Nigeria Limited.

Bu the protesters said their action was engendered by the expropriation of their land by the company.
Some of the placards read:   “Ezinano is telling Eze-uzu to leave their land for them and their children”; “He is a disappointment to the people” and “Our king is licking a pot of soup alone”.

Those arraigned before Magistrate L.C. Okoye on eight-count charge include Anayo Chinwuba (35), Daniel Udeke (39), Ifeme Keluo (27) and Arinze Udekwe (22).
The protesters pointed accusing fingers at their traditional ruler who, they claimed, connived with the company to deprive them of large expanse of land in Awka on the guise of developing a housing estate in the area.

The protesters were led by the state coordinator of Transform Nigeria Movement, TNM, Comrade Obi Ochije.
When the charges were read, the accused persons pleaded not guilty and were granted bail by the court with two sureties each and N200,000.
They were also directed to submit their passport photographs to the court.