…Says Solution of Matter Ongoing
The Catholic Diocese of Awka says it has no hand in the eviction of tenants from its property along Secretariat Road, Awka, Anambra State, following the execution of a court judgement. The Chancellor of the Awka Catholic Diocese, Rev Fr Dr Charles Ndubisi, made this known at a press conference at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Thursday, to address the controversy generated by the development, Jude Atupulazi reports.
It will be recalled that tenants occupying the said property had been evicted from it by the bailiff acting on a court judgement. This had caused a furore, with some of the tenants accusing the Church of high handedness and not giving them notice before the execution of the judgement.
But addressing newsmen in Awka, Thursday, Fr Ndubisi said it had become pertinent to clear the air on the matter based on the news circulating on social media regarding the execution of the judgment by the court in a property belonging to the Catholic Diocese of Awka.
Sympathising with the victims of the eviction, Fr Ndubisi, while insisting that the Church did not participate in the execution of the court order, said however that, if it did, things could have been handled differently, even as he noted that some of those affected were already in talks with the Diocese in order to find solutions.
‘As a Church, we value harmonious and peaceful co-existence. To demonstrate empathy and love, those evicted who have reached out to us, have been directed to approach Equity Law Office, our legal arm, to sign tenancy agreement with the Diocese, having recognized the rightful owner of the said property.
‘Once again, we urge others who have not come to comply with the order of court to do so.
‘At this point, it is important to state clearly that the property in question situated at No 27 Seaman Avenue/Secretariat Road, in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, is the property of the Catholic Diocese of Awka. The intruder who forcefully entered the property and hired it out to tenants, is one Mr. Chidi Osakwe. To be civil and humane, the Diocese decided to use court processes to evict them.
‘For record purposes, the intruder and unknown tenants occupying the property illegally, were served quit notice by the court. There were two suits; firstly, against Mr. Chidi Osakwe. The second suit was against the unknown persons in the property. We were reliably informed by our legal unit that none of those persons complied with the notices,’ the Awka Diocesan Chancellor explained.
He said that afterwards, seven days owner’s intention notice meant to recover possession was served to both the intruder and unknown persons in the property and that by that notice, they were given only seven days to vacate the said apartment.
‘At the expiration of the seven days owner’s intention, the claim against Mr. Chidi Osakwe and those unknown persons was filed, requesting the court to order for immediate possession of the property. The Court delivered judgment in favour of the rightful owner of the property.
‘Finally, there was a court order for the execution of the judgment. The bailiff, based on that, enforced and executed the judgment. The bailiff did that because the court granted an execution order.
‘It is important to note that Mr. Chidi Osakwe is standing trial at the Awka Magistrate Court for criminal charges,’ Fr Ndubisi disclosed, while once more sympathising with those affected by the execution of the judgment, especially those, he said, who were deceived by Mr Chidi Osakwe, whom he described as a mischief maker.
He disclosed also that those who had approached the Diocese had been given an opportunity to sign tenancy agreement with the legal department, in such a way that they could henceforth become the Diocese’s tenants, having recognized the rightful owners of the property.
‘Our hands are wide open to welcome others who have not reached out to us and we encourage them to do so.
‘Finally, may I humbly advise those who have been presenting false narratives on the social media about the Diocese of Awka to retrace their steps and embrace peace and dialogue.
‘I thank you for your attention. May the good Lord bless you most abundantly, Amen,’ Fr Ndubisi prayed.
Present at the press conference was the Diocesan Deputy Chancellor, Fr Chidi Aguinam.
