Facts have emerged on how the former Imo State governor, Sen. Rochas Okorocha entered into 92 plots of land deal worth Four Billion Naira (N4b) with an Abuja based real estate magnet, Chief Success Obioma Akagburuonye.
The 92 plots of land are situated across various locations in Abuja, the Nigeria Federal Capital Territory.
Society Mirror gathered that the lands in question have been in dispute, having been confiscated by the Federal Government through the then FCT Minister, Governor Nasir Elrufai and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2018.
It was further gathered that upon the alleged unlawful seizure of the lands, Akagburuonye, a community leader in Imo State went to his then governor, Okorocha through his elder sister, Geraldine Obinali to complain his ordeal and to seek his assistance towards recovering his lands.
And after listening to him, Okorocha was said to have promised to help him out but on the alleged condition to buy off the lands once they are recovered.
The ex-Imo governor allegedly went further to give Akagburuonye the sum of Ninety-two Million Naira (N92,000,000) as part payment of the said land to show his commitment to the deal. Though according to the report gathered, there was no receipt or documentary evidence for the payment.
Chief Barr. Success Obioma Akagburuonye
However, for fear of reneging on the deal, Akagburuonye had gone public with a certain "Thank You" letter addressed to Okorocha dated June 12, 2023, which a source close to him said it was for posterity sake.
This followed the court case instituted by Okorocha at an Abuja High Court with suit no. FCT/HC/CV/6136/2023 against him and others over certain discrepancies in the deal. Meanwhile, the matter in the court comes up on tomorrow and next being 7th and 8th August, 2023.
The source who prefered anonymity also expressed concern over what he described as alleged ploy to undermine justice by those sponsoring the matter.
According to him, "the latest now is that after adjourning the case till after vacation, the presiding judge was appointed vaccation judge.
Seek copy of the letter
"I presume that because of the hidden agenda and evil intentions of mischief makers who are spornsoring the case, the vacation judge recalled the case to continue. This is a case he had already adjourned till after vacation."
"But Barr. Akagburuonye has asked us not to worry because he strongly believe that God of justice will always prevail over the matter." he added.
See suit filed below
The letter reads, "I wish lo express my happiness and my family's gratitude to you for living by example.
"In 2018, your elder sister, Mama Imo, Mrs. Geraldine Obinali brought me to vou. You recaived me and promised to help me recover my properties and those of my clients seized by the Federal Government through Elrufai and EFCC.
"You gave me Ninety Two Milion Naira N92,000,000.00 (Ninety-Two Million Naira) only through your sister. You did not ask me for recaipt or any agreement. You promisod to buy all the 92 plots contained in the acknowledgment given to me by the Land commitee that collected the originals on the 10/4/2002.
He continued, "Consequenty, you directed your lawyer, Barr Ubong Esop to prepare agreement between me and you to cover all the 92 plots covered by the FCT High Court Judgment in Suit No:FCT/HC/M/6069/2011, and demanded for Power of Attomey from all the land owners to enable me deal on their behalf.
"I complied and you offered to buy all the 92 plots excluding plots 2129 Garki my offic8, 479 Mabushi my staff auartets and 505 Wuye my residence, at the rate of N4, 000,000,000,00 (Four Billon Naira) only.
"In view of the above, you promised to give me 14500, 000,000.00 (Fve Hundred Milion Naira) advance to enable me pacify other land owners, but due to your tight schedules, you could not do that.
"You later told your sister and your lawyer that due to the pending criminal case in Federal High Court, you will not do anything further til the case ends.
"To the glory of God, I was discharged and acquitted on 5/5/2022. I brought the judgment to you and told you that my reason for coming was due to the fact that you trusted me blindy with your N92, 000,000.00 (Ninety Two Milion Naira) in 2018. I know that we have unfinished business and that I would want you to consider it before dealing with any other person.
"I had need for 1440,000.000.00 (Forty Milion Naira) for my son's school fees and you rescued me. 1 also demanded N500,000,000.00 (Five Hundred Millon Naira) pending over my properties to enable me also pacify the other land owners while waiting for the conclusion of the transaction with you, and you gave me $450,000,000.00 (Fifty Millon Naira), and I donated another Power of Attorney to you over the whole properties.
"You kept your word and promised to buy the 92 plots over from their owners with their interests in the properties at ihe cost of N4, 000.000,000.00 (Four Billion Naira only).
"You have given me your words on 9/6/2023 that you will pay for the 92 plots on Tuesday 12/6/2023, get that first deal done with and proceed with the other side of the transaction and conclude your efforts and plans to recover the other 111 plots through the court and share wilth you and me (including my clients) on 70% - 30% basis.
"I communicated to them and my family what we agreed with you in the presence of your son Amen, Bar. Emeka Nwani at the restaurant in your plaza (Tropical Galleria) at Central Area on Friday 9/6/2023, and they were all happy and prayed for you and your family.
"I wish to remind Your Excelency that the agreement for the sale of the 92 plots contained in the list covered by FCT High Court judgment of 31/52012 in sult No: FCT/HC/M/6069/2011 shall exclude plots 2129 Garki my office, 505 Wuye my residence and 479 Mabushi, my staff quarters as earlier agreed.
"I wish to communicate to you that my family and clients request that you should pay off the whole money for the plots which is N4, 000,000,000,00 (Four Billion Naira) at once. Please let us get this deal done with and face other things you would want me and land owners to do for you on the remaining ones.
"Your Excellency, you may wish to consider this request. It shall be highly appreciated and God will increase you for doing it. Yours in the service of humanity and for greater Nigeria.
"Obioma Success Akagburuonye."
Also, fielding questions from newsmen during the Special Thanksgiving Service at the Assemblies of God Church, Awaka in honour of a lecturer of Federal University of Technoloou Owerri, FUTO, Linus Nwogu, who was elevated to the position of Professor, Akagburuonye who is the National Chairman of HopeRising for Imolites insisted that there is no rift between him and the former Imo governor.
The Abuja based Engineer and land developer who described Okorocha a good man, clarified that what people think as being a problem between him and Okorocha was because of the little understanding between them over the said land business transaction they had.
He went further to disclosed how Sen Okorocha had advised him to pray and fast over the land deal and get back to him. As well as his response to him after the prayers and meeting with his spiritual father.
Responding to Okorocha in a text sent to him, Akagburuonye said, "Sir I promised to get back to you, based on my spiritual father's advice. You know this person very well, he has prayed and fasted and has advised me on how to go about the issue at hand concening my lands in Abuja. He said I did nothing wrong, seeking for help. But I was turned a lawful captive but, lsaiah 49-24 to 26 is my portion.
"The Powers of Attorney have not defaulted in any way. The sharing formulas are binding on me. If any of the persons performs according to the terms and conditions stated therein, I should keep my own side of the agreement. But if anybody wants to take advantage of my condition and wishes to take the lands, I should leave them for the persons."
He continued:" My Spiritual Adviser said from the stories so far, there shouldn't be any problem sharing the lands because, one of the persons has shown proofs of evidence of efforts towards recovering specified plots, not even up to half of the plots.
"If there is no ulterior motives and hidden agenda, efforts should have been concentrated on the remaining ones, instead of wasting time and resources on FCDA and Court staff to deprive me of what God has given me.
I shouldn't do anything to hurt any of the people l gave Powers of Attorney, but if any of them hurts me, God will show up and prove to the person that it was God that saved me and blessed me with the lands which belongs to God."
"My Spiritual Adviser also said if anybody, after seeing, hearing and reading my stories and ordeal, feels I am nobody and wants to take advantage of me over those lands, I shouldn't worry, the blessings of God maketh rich and added no sorrow. He said any plot that has not been paid for as at today, I shouldn't sell cheap again. Instead of me to sell cheap, I should let the person take free. God has blessed me, I shouldn't make mistakes again.
He further disclosed that his Spiritual Adviser counseled him to allow the cases in court to be determined or withdrawn by the claimant before talking about the transactions again.
"He said I shouldn't be cowed or intimidated again, if anybody does it or inflict pains on me again, the anger of God would descend upon the person and his or her supporters. He said I shouldn't meet with any of the persons fighting over my lands again at their places, but either in my place, as land owner, if the persons recognize me as such, or at a neutral place with the lawyers in the transaction.
"He commended you for acknowiedging the "Thank you Letter I wrote to you, stating clearly my commitments with you that shows you are committed to it and you should be guided by that.
"He has taken copies to relevant authorities in case anybody chooses to tell lies tomorow and make false claims to either, cheat or mislead anyone.
"Also, for my own security, the copies of that letter have been submitted to security agencies because of what he said he saw in spirit being planned against me."
"But he assured me that the same God who fought the battles for me for 20 years, is still with me to finish up and take His glory which He can't share with anyone.
"Your Excellency, I am sorry for bugging you wth this write-up, bear with me that is the way it is. I'm leaving Abuja to wait for the issues in court to be resolved, you decide to do the needful, buy my properties and those of my clients if you are still interested. The owners of those lands said they are giving me till July ending to sell, take my share as was agreed in their Powers of Attorney donated to me 40, 30, 30, or they back out since the criminal case is over. I would be leaving weelkend."
Chief Success Akagburuonye concluded by thanking Senator Rochas Okorocha and wishing him God's guidance in his decisions.
Meanwhile, Society Mirror is making efforts to get reaction from Sen. Okorocha over the matter. The reaction will also be made public as soon as it is gotten.
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