A serious dispute has erupted between TOSHEL Construction Company, owned by Chief Tochukwu Nzekwe, and the Enugu State Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA), over allegations of illegal shutdown, property encroachment and abuse of office.
Chief Nzekwe, the Executive Director of TOSHEL Construction Company, accused the Chairman of ECTDA, Mr. Uche Anya, of unlawfully sealing off his company premises for over one year without any official notice, thereby crippling his business and causing massive financial losses.
Speaking to journalists at the company’s site over the face-off on Wednesday, Nzekwe insisted that he has no issue whatsoever with the Enugu State Government or Governor Peter Mbah, whom he described as “a man of integrity, pedigree and character.”
“I don’t think I have any problem with the Enugu State Government. I believe strongly that Governor Peter Mbah will not approve the kind of actions the ECTDA leadership is taking. Whatever is happening is not coming from the governor,” he said.
According to Nzekwe, his company, which has operated on the site for over 20 years with a valid Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), was shut down in December 2024 without any written notice, court order, or formal communication from any government agency.
“For over one year now, nobody has served me any letter. Nobody has told me what offence I committed. Yet my company was shut down, my gates sealed, and my equipment trapped,” he said.
He alleged that the ECTDA chairman has a personal interest in acquiring his property, claiming that Anya had previously approached him with a proposal to alter his perimeter fence to align with a uniform fencing plan for the New Artisan Market and a proposed seven-star hotel project.
“He begged me and pleaded that he wanted to beautify the area and that my fence should conform. I did not agree. After that, everything changed,” Nzekwe alleged.
He further claimed that Anya openly threatened him, telling people that he would “consume” him, and accused the ECTDA chairman of acting at the behest of unnamed associates.
Nzekwe said the prolonged closure has devastated his business, which employs about 350 workers.
“This company makes an average of ₦6 million to ₦7 million daily when weather permits. The equipment grounded here is worth over ₦10 billion. I cannot even begin to quantify the losses I’ve incurred in the past year,” he lamented.
He stressed that the site is located in an approved industrial layout, not a residential area, and questioned claims that the property violates high-tension electricity right-of-way rules.
“If there is an issue with high-tension lines, that is the responsibility of EEDC and the Transmission Company of Nigeria, not ECTDA,” he argued.
Confrontation and Alleged Use of Force
Nzekwe recounted that tensions escalated on Tuesday when he reopened his gate after more than a year, prompting Anya to arrive with what he described as “tens of people” to forcibly bring down the gate.
“He even came at midnight to seal the place again. I told him no. I must survive. If I have committed an offence, let the government write to me officially,” he said.
He also dismissed claims that his property is government land, questioning why his ownership is being challenged despite holding a valid C of O.
“Where the chairman lives, is it not on government land? Does that make it government property? Am I a criminal? Did they find any weapons here?” he asked.
When contacted, ECTDA Chairman Mr. Uche Anya denied any wrongdoing and rejected allegations of personal vendetta.
He claimed that the disputed portion of land belongs to the Enugu State Government, though he admitted uncertainty about the property’s exact status.
In a text message sent to our correspondent, Anya accused Nzekwe of resorting to self-help, propaganda and intimidation.
“Today, 13/01/26, one Engr. Tochukwu Nzekwe brought down a section of the fenced New Artisan Market and illegally installed a gate, claiming ownership of that section,” Anya wrote.
He stated that the fence in question was constructed by the Enugu State Government in 2024 and that alternative access gates were already provided.
“When ECTDA staff questioned his conduct, he unleashed mayhem on our officials. His policemen also pointed guns menacingly at our staff,” Anya alleged, adding that the authority would not “succumb to violent and self-help disposition.”
However, Anya did not explain why TOSHEL Construction’s premises have remained sealed for over a year, with heavy equipment trapped inside, nor did he provide evidence that the land is under government acquisition or dispute.
Meanwhile, Nzekwe told journalists that he has formally written to Governor Peter Mbah over the matter and has acknowledgment copies to prove it, though he is yet to receive a response.
“I am a peaceful, law-abiding citizen. I am pleading with the government to allow me manage my property. If I have committed any offence, let me know and I will face it,” he said.
He warned that the actions of the ECTDA leadership could tarnish the image of the state government, urging authorities to intervene before the situation escalates further.
