Anambra reviews 180 criminal cases over land disputes

The Anambra State Ministry of Justice is reviewing about 180 criminal cases arising from land disputes across the state, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, has said.

Nweke disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, saying the review was part of the state government’s efforts to prevent the criminal prosecution of disputes that are essentially civil matters.

He said the ministry would notify affected parties of the outcome of the review, adding that cases found to be civil in nature would be discontinued to allow the parties to seek redress in civil courts.

According to him, cases determined to involve criminal offences would be returned for prosecution.

The statement partly read, “About 180 land-related criminal cases are currently being reviewed by the Anambra State Ministry of Justice.

“The ongoing review of criminal land cases follows a notice earlier issued by the Attorney-General inviting those who are convinced that their criminal cases involving land disputes were civil in nature to submit a complaint to his office for review of the cases.

“We assure that those whose files are being reviewed will soon be notified of the outcome.

“In the meantime, those lingering criminal cases emanating from land disputes which are found to be civil will be discontinued so parties can proceed to civil courts. Those cases found to be criminal will be returned for prosecution.”

Nweke said the exercise reflected the state government’s determination to ensure that residents were not subjected to criminal prosecution over disputes that should be resolved through civil proceedings.

He added that the ministry was still receiving complaints from members of the public over alleged criminalisation of land disputes and urged affected persons to submit their cases for review.

The Attorney-General’s statement followed calls by residents of Umuenu Quarters in Umuawulu, Awka South Local Government Area, for neutrality in a land dispute between Umuenu and neighbouring Enugwu Quarters.

The Chairman of Umuenu Quarters, Bernneth Mbolu, made the appeal while speaking with journalists at the premises of the High Court after the case was adjourned.

Mbolu claimed that the disputed parcel had been the subject of a legal battle since 1928, alleging that activities of land grabbers from Enugwu Quarters had contributed to the prolonged dispute.

He said members of Umuenu Quarters had been seeking redress through the courts and appealed to Governor Chukwuma Soludo to intervene, alleging that the dispute was affecting economic and commercial activities in the area.

Mbolu further alleged that some individuals from the neighbouring community were working with the state Attorney-General to take over their ancestral land and render members of Umuenu Quarters homeless.

The allegations had not been independently established, while the Attorney-General’s office has said its review process is intended to determine which land-related cases are civil disputes and which involve criminal offences.