The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions has ordered an immediate halt to all development activities on a disputed parcel of land in the Umundoche community, Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State, pending the resolution of a petition alleging illegal land acquisition and systemic harassment of residents.
​The directive was issued on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, during a public hearing at Room 429, House of Representatives New Wing, National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
​The committee chairman, Rt. Hon. Michael Etaba Irom, instructed all affected parties to suspend work immediately and refrain from deploying heavy earth-moving equipment.
​”There are orders that no more actions on this land until this matter is resolved—either through this place, or through whichever other means you want to resolve it,” Irom stated. “That’s the first order. No more putting up caterpillars or bulldozers in that land.”
​The petition before the legislative panel alleges the illegal acquisition of over 2,500 hectares of land in Umundoche, accompanied by invasion of the community, shooting, and the intimidation of villagers.
​Addressing security concerns surrounding the conflict, Irom revealed that the committee contacted major security agencies following reports of armed groups operating in the area. He noted that both the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force disowned the armed individuals and denied issuing firearms to anyone in the community.
​”All the boys that are armed in that village should be disarmed. Because we have made contact with the DSS. They said they didn’t give them the gun. The police said they didn’t,” the chairman disclosed.
​During the proceedings, Hon. Dr. Anthony Nwogu, the lawmaker representing Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency, countered arguments regarding ongoing court proceedings, affirming the National Assembly’s constitutional authority to investigate public grievances.
​”That a matter is in court does not immediately stop us from doing our duty,” Nwogu stated. “This is a constitutional committee, one of the very few committees written directly into the Nigerian Constitution.”
​The petition names several respondents, including HRH Eze Lambert Ujuoha, traditional ruler of Obiangwu / Obioma Autonomous Community. While the petitioners accuse respondents of illegal land grab and coercion, the respondents maintain that the land was legally acquired and that all transactions followed due process.
​To facilitate a full investigation, the committee ordered all parties to submit certified true copies of relevant court documents and adjourned the hearing to November 2026.
