The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has invited victims and petitioners in the alleged Enugu land grabbing scandal for fresh interviews next week following SaharaReporters’ exposé, a lawyer representing one of the petitioners has disclosed.

The lawyer, Prof. John Daniel, said the Bureau’s Director of Intelligence, Investigations and Monitoring had scheduled a meeting for next Tuesday to receive additional complaints, interviewed and documentary evidence from affected landowners, investors and other petitioners over allegations that senior Enugu State government officials unlawfully acquired disputed ancestral lands and diverted proceeds from land sales into private accounts.

Similarly, one of the victims, Simon Omeke, told SaharaReporters that he also received an invitation from the CCB for an interview over his earlier petition.

“I received an invitation from CCB to come on Tuesday to adopt my petition on my land the officials of the Enugu State sold. I have been waiting for this interview for more than two years now,” he said.

Daniel, who represents surveyor Chief Raphael Chukwu Chiebonam, urged all victims and prospective petitioners and victims with relevant evidence to honour the invitation and assist the Bureau in strengthening its investigation.

The development comes days after SaharaReporters exclusively reported that an official CCB investigation into allegations of abuse of office, conflict of interest and possible violations of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers by senior Enugu State officials had lost momentum under controversial circumstances.

“The Director CCB will be disposed to hearing from me various accusations and complaints against government officials grabbing lands in Enugu and having the proceeds diverted to private accounts next Tuesday,” Daniel said.

“We need those that can corroborate our earlier petition.”

The renewed engagement follows SaharaReporters’ July 20 investigation, which revealed that the CCB had formally opened investigations into allegations involving the controversial New Enugu Smart City and Coal City Eastern Extension Estate projects.

Documents exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters showed that the Bureau had written to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), requesting Certified True Copies of incorporation documents relating to Coal City Eastern Extension Estate Alliance Ltd as part of its investigation.

In a letter dated August 15, 2024, with Reference No. CCB/HQ/II&M/007/2287, signed on behalf of the Chairman by the Director of Intelligence, Investigations and Monitoring, the Bureau stated that it was investigating an “alleged breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers as enshrined in the Fifth Schedule Part I to the 1999 Constitution.”

The agency requested Forms CO2, CO7 and the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the company to facilitate the conclusion of its investigation.

SaharaReporters had also reported that the investigation suffered a major setback after the lead investigator, identified as Mohammed, was involved in a serious road accident shortly after travelling to Enugu to serve invitation letters on officials named in the petitions.

Although another investigator, identified as Angor, later took over the case, petitioners alleged that no meaningful progress had been communicated to them since late 2024.

“The Code of Conduct Bureau abandoned it since November 2024,” a source familiar with the investigation had earlier told SaharaReporters.

The prolonged silence fuelled concerns among affected landowners and investors, some of whom feared that the investigation had been quietly abandoned.

The petitions before the Bureau were filed by Transparency Centre Network and Abuja-based law firm Ndarani (SAN) & Co. on behalf of Surveyor Chief Raphael Chukwu Chiebonam and indigenous communities in Ogui-Nike and Ugwuaji-Awkunanew.

The petitioners alleged that public officials incorporated Coal City Eastern Extension Estate Alliance Ltd as a private company and used it to take over lands acquired by the government under the guise of overriding public interest before marketing and selling the plots to private investors.

Corporate Affairs Commission records obtained by SaharaReporters showed that the company was incorporated in December 2021 with top officials in the administration of former Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi listed as directors and shareholders.

Subsequent filings showed changes in the company’s ownership after Governor Peter Mbah assumed office, with current senior officials, including Secretary to the State Government Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, Housing Commissioner Martin Chukwunweike, Enugu State Housing Development Corporation Managing Director Gerald Asogwa and Senior Advocate of Nigeria James Onyeanwuna Ikeyi, listed among the directors or persons with significant control.

SaharaReporters also published allocation letters and payment records indicating that plots within the disputed estate were marketed through government agencies, while some payment advisories directed buyers to pay millions of naira into the private company’s bank account.

The Enugu State Government has consistently denied wrongdoing, maintaining that Coal City Eastern Extension Estate Alliance Ltd and related entities are state-owned Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) and that the officials merely serve as nominal shareholders and trustees on behalf of the government rather than as beneficial owners.

However, the petitioners insist that the CCB should conclude its investigation and determine whether the officials breached the constitutional Code of Conduct for Public Officers through conflicts of interest, abuse of office or other violations.

With interviews now scheduled for next Tuesday, the petitioners expressed optimism that the Bureau’s renewed engagement would revive the investigation and encourage more victims, landowners and investors with relevant documentary evidence to come forward.