Police Arraign 54-Year-Old Man for Encroachment on Federal Government Land.

The Anambra State Police Command has arraigned a 54-year-old man, Mr. Orji Kelechukwu, for allegedly encroaching on land belonging to the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) in Onitsha, Anambra State. Orji is also facing charges for engaging in actions likely to cause a breach of peace by unlawfully entering the aforementioned NIWA land.

In the two-count charge, No. 101/2025, Commissioner of Police versus Orji Kelechukwu, it is alleged that “you, Orji Kelechukwu, between March 2024 and April 3, 2025, at Niger Street Ose Waterfront, Onitsha, did willfully or negligently and without the consent of the National Inland Waterways Authority, use the land along the waterfront, which measures about 100 meters perpendicular from the edge of both banks, and thereby committed an offense punishable under Section 23 (1) (a) (4) of the National Inland Waterways Authority Act, Cap N47, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2024.” Furthermore, it is alleged that “you, Orji Kelechukwu, on the same date and at the same location, did cause a reasonable apprehension of a breach of peace by entering the land in the actual and peaceable possession of the National Inland Waterways Authority, and thereby committed an offense punishable under Section 115 of the Criminal Code, Cap 36, Volume II, Revised Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria 1991 as amended.” When the matter came before His Worship C.B. Okoyeb in court, Orji pleaded not guilty and was granted bail.

The case was adjourned to June 4, 2025, for further hearing. It is worth noting that Orji was arrested during a joint operation by Navy officials from the Naval Outpost in Onitsha and policemen from the NIWA Police Post at Bridgehead Onitsha. He was taken into custody in a motor park established by the Onitsha South Local Government on land where the council demolished properties deemed illegal structures, which encroached on NIWA’s right of way. Additionally, some affected NIWA clients, including Lake Petroleum Limited, have taken the matter to the Federal High Court in Awka, challenging the demolition and the subsequent occupation of the land by Onitsha South Local Government, which converted it into a motor park and trading place. After Orji’s arrest, NIWA Area Manager for Onitsha, Mr. Nicholas Suleiman, reported that NIWA has lost over N160 million due to the alleged illegal demolition of houses and shops on its right of way and the conversion of the land into a motor park and trading area, from which the council collects levies through Orji. Suleiman also expressed frustration that NIWA’s attempts to meet with the Onitsha South Local Government Chairman, Mr. Emeka Orji, to discuss the activities of his officials on the land were refused.