From Maurice Okafor, Enugu
Consolidated hearing in the long-running tussle over the ownership of the Oji River Forest Reserves is scheduled to resume on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at the Enugu State High Court, presided over by Justice R. O. Odugu.
The dispute is between Ahani-Achi Autonomous Community in Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State and Aulic Nigeria Ltd, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and Professor Nick Eze. The suit, marked HOR/31/2018, has lasted for eight years.
Hearings in the matter were initially held at the Oji River High Court located within the premises of the Oji River Local Government headquarters. However, insecurity on the roads at the time led to the relocation of sittings to the State High Court at Independence Layout, Enugu, where proceedings have been held for the past three years.
In the suit, Ahani-Achi Autonomous Community is claiming ownership of the land on which the forest reserves were planted, contending that the land was leased to the Nigerian Coal Corporation solely for the planting of Gmelina trees to aid coal mining activities in Enugu.
Professor Nick Ezeh, on his part, claims he bought the Oji River Forest Reserves when it was advertised for sale by the Bureau of Public Enterprises. He told newsmen that he envisaged developing the Oji forest reserves into an industrial zone.
Following the transaction, the then leadership of the Ahani-Achi Development Union (ADU), the custodians of the community’s landed properties, led by Sir Cliff Orji, approached the court to challenge the transfer of ownership of the Oji Forest Reserves by the BPE to Professor Nick Eze and Aulic Nigeria Ltd. They argued that the transaction contravened the lease agreement between the Nigerian Coal Corporation and Ahani-Achi, the host community.
At the expiration of Sir Cliff Orji-led town union executive, the succeeding Ahani-Achi Town Union executive led by Hon. Kingsley Ezeh inherited and continued with the suit.
Checks revealed that several scheduled court sittings on the matter over the years were postponed due to post-election cases arising from the 2023 general elections. With the resumption of normal court activities last year, Justice Odugu opted for a consolidated hearing of the case. Further sittings have been fixed for Wednesday, January 28, February 11 and February 28, 2026.
However, critical issues have recently emerged in the dispute following the appearance of a third force in the tussle, as the Enugu State Government has taken over most parts of the Oji River Forest Reserves for its own projects.
Investigations revealed the presence of two signposts indicating ‘New Town Estate’ and ‘Unity Estate’ mounted by the State Ministry of Housing. The signposts stand about one kilometre apart along the Oji-Achi Road, while the remaining portion has been sealed with dwarf walls on the order of the state government.
At a meeting held in September 2025 with the immediate past executives of Ahani-Achi Town Union, the current caretaker committee and other stakeholders of the community, the Enugu State Commissioner for Housing, Engr. Gerald Otiji, emphasised that the state government took over the Oji River Forest Reserves in overriding public interest.
According to him, the section fenced with dwarf walls has been mapped out for the construction of Enugu State’s new College of Nursing to be sited in Oji River town. He also disclosed that the Unity Estate would be located beside the proposed College of Nursing.
He said the state government recognises Ahani-Achi as the host community and that their designated portions of the estate would be shared amicably among community members and facilitators.
Sources, who did not want to be quoted in print, disclosed that the Enugu State Government plans to resolve all parties involved in the Oji River Forest Reserves tussle, having taken over most of the land for its projects in overriding public interest, as earlier stated by Commissioner Otiji.
