November 19, (THEWILL) – St. Lazarus Catholic Chaplaincy at the Federal Correctional Centre in Owerri has raised serious concerns over alleged land encroachment by the centre’s Controller, Mr Kingsley Njoku.
The Chaplaincy claims that Njoku has unlawfully fenced-off an area of land designated for the church without prior consultation or involvement of stakeholders.
During a press briefing held on Monday, Rev. Fr. Jude Onyeakazi, Chairman of St. Lazarus Catholic Chaplaincy, explained that the Controller’s actions appear to violate an established legal framework that sanctioned the church’s establishment within the correctional facility in 1999.
Onyeakazi noted that in an effort to uphold peace and the church’s rights, they have sought legal recourse, but faced intimidation when officials sent to serve legal notice were allegedly chased away by the Controller’s staff.
“The land was officially approved for the Chaplaincy on July 14, 1999, by the Nigerian Prisons Service, and we have the relevant documents to back our claims,” said Onyeakazi. “While our relationship with the Prisons has historically been cooperative, we are perplexed by the current Controller’s refusal to follow the precedent set by his predecessors, who recognised the church’s significant contributions to the rehabilitation of inmates.”
He expressed concern over what he described as bias, noting that the church has provided essential support to the inmates, including infrastructure and vocational training programmes.
Onyeakazi also highlighted ongoing health and safety issues, citing hazardous waste emanating from the prison yard, which has deterred members of the congregation from attending services. He urged the Controller to halt all construction on the disputed land until the court reaches a decision.
The Chaplaincy has appealed to the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, to intervene in the matter and protect the church’s rights to the land, emphasising the need to maintain peace, order, and security.
In a response to the allegations, an anonymous official from the Federal Correctional Centre stated that the fencing is intended to enhance security and prevent future attacks, alleging that previous assaults on the facility were orchestrated through the church grounds.
The situation remains tense, with both parties firmly standing their ground as the legal proceedings continue.
