30 ejected tenants cry, beg Soludo for rescue… properties worth #100m destroyed

By Julie Sylvia, Onitsha

It was all crying and wailing at No. 57 Atani road, Iyiowa Odekpe, Ogbaru Local Government area, Anambra State, as about 30 tenants of a three storey building were ejected out of the building and their properties estimated into #100 million destroyed despite their suit against the landlord, Mr. Festus Nwanochie, which is still pending in a magistrate court at Atani.

Five of the tenants, (plaintiffs), namely,, Chibueze Ali, Anthony I. Ezue, Nicodemus Nwafor, Mrs Okani Sussan and Chukwuemeka Nwankwo, had in the suit No. MGB/13/2025, dragged the landlord, Mr. Festus Nwanochie, (defendant), to court through his attorneys that include, Chima Umensofor, Chikaodili Dimojiaku, Joseph Nwobodo and Ifeanyi Okoye.

In the claim of the plaintiffs they said that the landlord through his attorneys wrote a letter to them sometime in April 2024, intimating them of a change in the management of the property and compelled them to pay #85,000 each, being money for form, tenancy agreement and landlord’s kola nut for them to retain their tenancy which they did out of fear of possible ejection.

On or before 3rd January 2025 the defendants caused notices to quit dated 31/12/2024 to be served on the plaintiffs to vacate on or before 31st day of January 2025 or have themselves to blame, vowing to demolish the building on 1st February 2025.

Sequel to the threat, the plaintiffs instructed their counsel, Monday A. Onwe, to give pre action notice to the defendant as their house rent has not expired and prayed the court for the following reliefs: a declaration that it is unlawful to eject the plaintiffs from the building until the expiration of their current tenancy respectively.

An order of injunction restraining the defendant, his attorneys, privies, agents, servants, howsoever from ejecting the plaintiffs from the said building and #500,000, being cost of suit.

Fielding questions from newsmen at the building now deserted as tenants have been ejected, two of the plaintiffs, Mr Chibueze Ali and Anthony O. Ezue, urged the court and Governor Chukwuma Soludo to come to their rescue disclosing that properties estimated into #100million has been destroyed as the defendant has ejected them and about to commence demolition having removed all doors, windows and roofings.

Pic shows the building