By Karen James


Chairman Amafor community in Nkpor ,Sir Emmanuel Idemili AKA Emma Gulder ,recently organized a press briefing on 23rd of August,2023 where he made strong accusations against Barr. Raphael Nnabuife regarding his involvement in a shootout over a property dispute situated “UNDER “the Nkpor flyover bridge along Enugu-Onitsha express way.
Pechilly investigative channel attended the press briefing where an authority letter from Federal Ministry of Works and Housing dated 23rd of January,2023 emanating from the office of the federal controller of works and housing fields headquarters Awka ,duly signed by one Engr.Opara A.E. was addressed to the Chairman Amafor community Nkpor Agu which was made available to news men by the convener Sir Emmanuel Idemili AKA Emma Gulder
However the authority paper that was issued to the Chairman Amafor community Nkpor Agu,sir Emmanuel idemili by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing was titled: Request for access approval from the service lane of Onitsha – Enugu dual carriageway down Nkpor flyover to our business location motor parks. On the authority letter emphasis were made by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing as it was written based on the subject matter with the tittle above that;
1.Approval was made to Amafor community Nkpor Agu to carry out commercial activities from THE SERVICE LANE WiTHIN THE “DOWN”NKPOR FLYOVER
However, the approval explicitly described the limits of the approval granted to the Amafor community Nkpor for commercial activities which basically stated the SERVICE LANE AND “Down” flyover hence the adjective used by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing in approving their commercial activities do not specifically mentioned”UNDER” the flyover which is the disputed portion in question. Analytically the approval only gave the Amafor community the authority to control service lane and both ends of the flyover environs and not UNDER the flyover as they alleged.
Other interesting condition given in the authority letter is that :
1. Amafor community Nkpor Agu commercial activities should not obstruct traffic on the federal right of way, the federal highway and the service lane.
Inadvertently, there is no mention of any commercial activities under the flyover to be carried out by the community.
Moreover, pechilly Investigative channel in the cause of the investigation sighted some documents including a memorandum of understanding between Anambra State Government and Business link limited over the said portion of land from the office of Anambra State Investment promotion and protection agency (ANSIPPA) made on October 2016 under the administration of Chief Wille Obiano ,formal executive Governor of Anambra State . The investor Business link limited entered into a concessional agreement with Anambra State Government under PPT STRUCTURE OF BUID,OPERATE MANAGE AND TRANSFER . This agreement was accepted and approval was duly given for the modern carpark project by the Anambra State Government under the Nkpor flyover bridge as was specified in the documents sighted.
The disputed property in question under the Nkpor flyover bridge belongs to the Anambra state government, with Business Link being given the contract to manage it as far back as 2016, as confirmed by Ansippa MD/CEO Mark Okoye, while the service lane and both ends of the flyover approved by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing on the 25thof January 2023, is separate from the property under the bridge managed by Business Link and they knew quite well that they do not have any jurisdiction under the bridge as it did not block or obstruct the federal right of way, federal highway way and the service lane.

In a related development, traders and artisans doing business within and around the vicinity of the Nkpor flyover when interviewed by pechilly Investigative channel staff , refuted any claims of shootings between any rival gangs or thugs around the area or over the disputed portion. Also, when contacted, the Executive Director representing the MD /CEO, Hon. Ejike Osisioma, refuted the allegations made by Amafor community against Barr. Raphael Nwabuife. The spokesman affirmed that Barr. Raphael Asha Nnabuife never sent any thugs to shoot in the community and that the lane referred to by the community is a service lane and not under the bridge as there was a concession agreement between the investment arm of Anambra State Government (ANSIPPA) and business link limited which is still in progress ,

Furthermore, Hon Ejike Osisioma said that the Anambra state Government has sent several warnings to those occupying the Nkpor under flyover bridge to vacate or face prosecution as the MOU that was signed between Business Link limited and the Anambra state government in October 2016, will only be renewable in 10 years time from the date the agreement was signed.
Furthermore, the Chairman of the Amafor community, Sir Emmanuel idemili, (Emmanuel Guilder), was found to have made a baseless allegation against Barr. Raphael Asha Nnabuife and the state government.
The truth is that no one was injured or shot at in Nkpor under bridge, and the only authorized entity managing the property under the bridge is Business Link Limited while, Barr. Raphael Asha Nnabuife is innocent of all the allegations levelled against him.