Police Demands N200,000 From Woman Whose Land Was Forcefully Taken By Ex-Senate President

Police are reportedly demanding the sum of N200,000 to grant bail to a woman identified as Mrs Orji whose land was forcefully taken over by former Senate President of Nigeria, Pius Anyim, in Ovumnte, Ishiagu, Ebonyi State.

According to SaharaReporters, a director with the National Health Insurance Scheme, Chindeu Nicholas Makwe had last Friday led thugs and surveyors into Moses Orji’s farm where they placed beacons on the land despite a bailiff of the state High Court of Ebonyi served on them (FORM 48/Notice of disobedience to court order).

Orji and his wife, who arrived to feed their remaining livestock, left after Makwe had used a bulldozer to destroy the farm in January, 2020 in company with thugs.

Mrs Orji then brought out her phone to video and take pictures of what Makwe and the surveyors were doing on the farm despite a court order.

Realising his pictures were being taken, he rushed to the woman with four thugs and pushed her to the ground, then kicked her and attempted to take her phone from her.

The woman hid the phone in her cloth and shouted for help on top of her voice that they wanted to tear her clothes and take her phone. It was at that point that the thugs left after verbally abusing Mrs Orji.

On Wednesday afternoon, June 17, the police arrested Mrs Orji, after she was physically assaulted by Makwe and his thugs at her husband’s farm in Ovumnte.

It was gathered that the woman was arrested and detained at the Ebonyi State Criminal Investigative Department on trumped up charges, while the police are demanding N200, 000 to grant her bail.

She was taken away by officers of the state CID at Ivo Police Station after being invited by the Divisional Police Officer, Nwornu Daniel, in respect of a complaint she made against Makwe, who has the backing of former Senate President, Pius Anyim.

The Ex-Senate President had employed thugs led by Makwe to terrorise residents of the community, and forcefully take over their lands.

Mrs Orji had earlier made a complaint against Makwe on June 13 but the DPO refused to investigate the matter or make any arrest.

It took the intervention of lawyers and members of the community before she was granted bail around 9pm on Wednesday and told to report back for questioning on Thursday.

When contacted, the police in Ebonyi refused to speak on the matter, stating that there was a court case on the issue.