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Right groups condemn forceful ejection of tenants by Awka Catholic Diocese


The Campaign for Democracy (CD) and Human Rights, Liberty Access and Peace Defender's Foundation (HURIDE) have condemned the forceful ejection of tenants from a shops at Awka without due process and quit notice

The right groups in their statement in Awka said it was wrong and insensitive of the Catholic Diocese of Awka to have gone to forcefully evict the tenants even if they have a court judgment since church should be seen as a humanitarian organisation not a militarised and despotic organisation.

They said throwing out those tenants in a most callous manner actually interrogates the integrity of the church like Roman Catholic church that is being held in high esteem as the epitome of the gospel of Christ and hope for the oppressed.

The groups in the statement signed by Dede Uzor A Uzor, Chairman, CD in South East Zone and Executive Director, HURIDE asked if the Church displayed this degree of insensitivity, callousness and brigandage, what gospel would they be preaching to the people? 

The group lamented that the church is seen as fortress for the oppressed in the society but when it turned around to become the oppressor what would the common man do?

Court Bailiffs allegedly acting under the supervision of the Chancellor, Catholic Diocese of Awka, Rev. Father Charles Ndubuisi, destroyed the wares of the tenants during their forceful eviction from a shop along Secretariat Road,Awka.

However, the Chancellor insisted that the eviction was carried out in obedience to Court order given by Magistrate E.C.Chukwu of Awka Magistrate Court,not the church.

The Court judgment granted the church immediate possession of the the property at No 27 Secretariat Road, which was said to be owned by a late Catholic priest.

But Osita Obi who claimed his wife alone, a retired Deputy Director of Federal Civil Service lost about N25m said no quit notice or court order was served them before the demolition.

The CD and HURIDE said that even if the church has court judgment,it should have carried out the exercise with Human face by first informing the tenants of the Court judgment and their intention to execute it.

" This execution looks like jankara type of execution done in a hurry to avoid an appeal. 

But with this manner of execution that puts people's source of income in jeopardy,what message will the church be preaching to their members?
What is the hope of the people since church cannot protect them anymore."? the rights groups queried

The group said they were not against the church recovering its property, if it rightly belonged to them and they have followed due process but they are under obligation to ensure that the right thing was not only done but done with human face in line with the church teachings and humanitarian disposition,Dede Uzor advised

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