Ihedioha bans civil servants from issuing C of Os in Owerri amid fears state land could be appropriated

IMO State governor-elect Hon Emeka Ihedioha has barred all civil servants from further engagement in matters relating to the processing and issuance of Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) as part of a move to combat the transfer of state assets to private individuals.

Following his victory in last month's gubernatorial elections, Hon Ihedioha is due to be sworn-in as governor on May 29 when incumbent Governor Rochas Okorocha's tenure ends. Amid rumours that Governor Okorocha is taking out huge loans, transferring property to individuals and making numerous last-minute appointments before leaving office, Hon Ihedioha has decided to act.

Although he still has no legal authority to issue edicts, Hon Ihedioha issued a statement yesterday, saying that any civil servant who processes, issues, insures or facilitates the collection of a C of O, will be dealt with when he assumes office. Chibuike Onyeukwu, his media aide, issued a statement on his boss's behalf yesterday, warning that any civil servant who flouts the order would be dealt with.

Mr Onyeukwu said: “After a calm and careful study of the report on land matters in Imo State, the governor-elect Emeka Ihedioha, has issued the following directive. That all further processing, issuance, execution and collection of Certificates of Occupancy, in respect of land within Owerri capital territory, are hereby, suspended and put on hold, forthwith.

“That civil servants, public servants, special aides and government officials in all departments of government, whose schedule of duties touches on and concerns land matters, including but not limited to, the registry of deeds, allocation of state land, processing, issuance, execution and delivery or release of certificates of occupancy, are to be guided and should strictly comply with the above directive. Any person found wanting in these directives, would have himself or herself to blame.”