Lawmaker accused of selling university land, denies involvement

Victor Onyewuchi, the representative of Owerri West Constituency in Imo State House of Assembly, on Wednesday denied involvement in the sale of land belonging to the Federal University of Technology Owerri.
Onyewuchi told the News Agency of Nigeria in Owerri that the allegation was politically motivated.
According to him, his only link with the land was an appeal presented on the floor of the Assembly for the state government to allow the original owners of the land to cultivate it.
NAN reports that some of lawmaker’s constituents had accused him involvement in the illegal sales of land belonging to the university.
Onyewuchi said: “I do not know anything about sales of land in Avu.
“I am only the lawmaker representing Owerri West constituency in Imo State House of Assembly.
“The much I know about the matter is that some people from Avu channelled their appeal for government to return their land hitherto designated for the construction of stadium by government through me.
“I presented their matter at the floor of the house and for some people to now turn around and claim that I was selling the land in Avu is very unfortunate.”
Onyeuwuchi said the representation made to government was due to the fact that Avu community now found it difficult to get land for cultivation.
“Avu people have sacrificed so much of their land for development in Imo and the land in question is not close to FUTO land and does not belong to FUTO,” he claimed.
He stressed that those linking his name with the alleged sale of the land were doing so for political reasons, adding: “They are political enemies who want to rubbish my political career.”
NAN.