Catholic Diocese Symphatises With Evictees, Urges Renewal Of Tenancy Agreement

The Catholic Diocese of Awka in Anambra State has sympathised with persons recently evicted from its property at the instance of a court judgement and asked them to renew their tenancy with its legal department.

The diocese’s chancellor, Rev. Fr. Charles Ndubuisi, and his deputy, Rev. Fr. Chudi Agiyinam, made the offer yesterday at a joint press conference at the diocese’s Conference Hall in Awka.

Ndubuisi said though the illegal occupants were aware of the diocese’s legal action to recover the property and were served notices to vacate it following the court judgement which declared the diocese the rightful owner, they refused to quit property.

The priest, however, said if it was the diocesan authorities that handed the eviction, it would have done it differently from the way the court bailiff and other law enforcement officials of the state executed it.

He blamed the sad development on an intruder (name withheld) for illegally occupying the church’s property and renting it to illegal tenants.

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The diocesan chancellor said there were disparaging narratives on social media against the diocese, where an Awka-based human rights activist accused the authorities of the diocese of being inhuman over the eviction of the illegal occupants.

Ndubuiss said, “As a church, we did not participate in the execution of the court order. If we did, maybe we would have handled things differently. As a church, we value harmonious and peaceful co-existence.

“To demonstrate empathy and love, those evicted who have reached out to us, have been directed to approach Equity Law Office, our legal arm to sign tenancy agreement with the diocese, having recognised the rightful owner of the property.

“Once again, we urge others who have not come to comply with the order of the court,” the chancellor stated.

The cleric also debunked an allegation that the diocese refused to accord one of its priests who lived in the property a befitting burial, and, that the property in question was willed by the deceased priest to the said intruder, stressing that no priest of the Catholic Church own any personal property.

He said, “At this point, it is important to state clearly that the property in question situated at No 27, Seaman Avenue/Secretariat Road in Awka South local government area of Anambra State is the property of the Catholic Diocese of Awka.

“To be civil and humane, the diocese decided to use court processes to evict them.

“For record purposes, the intruder and unknown tenants occupying the property illegally were served quit notices by the court. There were two suits, first against the intruder (name withheld). The second suit was against the unknown persons in the property.

“We were reliably informed by our legal unit that none of these persons complied with the notices. Afterwards, seven days owner’s intention notice meant to recover possession was served on both the intruder and unknown persons in the house.

“By this notice, they were given only seven days to vacate the said apartment. At the expiration of the seven days, the owner’s intention the claim against the intruder and those unknown persons was filed requesting the court to order immediate possession of the property.

“The court delivered judgment in favour of the rightful owner of the property.

“We once more sympathise with those affected by this execution of judgment, especially those who were deceived by the mischief maker.

Those who have approached the diocese have been given opportunity to sign tenancy agreement with the legal department, in such a way that they could now become our tenants, having recognised the rightful owners of the property.

“Our hands are wide open to welcome others who have not reached out to us and we encourage them to do so,” Ndubuisi said.

He advised those who have been presenting false narratives on social media about the Diocese of Awka to retrace their steps and embrace peace and dialogue, threatening, however, that the diocese would take necessary actions to redeem the image of the church.