Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Code of Conduct Bureau has revived its investigation into senior officials of the Enugu State Government over allegations of land grabbing and unlawful acquisition of shares in companies linked to the controversial New Enugu Smart City project, according to documents and sources familiar with the matter. The probe, which was initially opened in 2023 but stalled after the affected officials failed to honour invitations, has been reactivated following a detailed investigative report by SaharaReporters that exposed how top government appointees allegedly acquired significant shareholdings in private companies involved in the acquisition and sale of disputed lands designated for the multi-billion-naira smart city development. The development has thrown the administration of Governor Peter Mbah into a fresh storm, with the government issuing a strong rebuttal while the anti-corruption agency moves to compel the officials to account for their interests in the companies.
The SaharaReporters investigation, published on July 14, 2026, relied on Corporate Affairs Commission records, official government correspondence, allocation letters, payment advisories and public notices to establish that senior officials of the Mbah administration occupied key positions in Coal City Eastern Extension Estate Alliance Ltd, a company involved in marketing and allocating plots within the New Enugu Smart City. The CAC documents identified the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, as holding 300,000 shares, representing 30 per cent control, while the former Commissioner for Housing, Dr. Martins Chukwunweike; the former General Manager of the Enugu State Housing Development Corporation, Gerald Asogwa; and the former Legal Adviser to the Governor, Osinachi Nnajieze, each held 225,000 shares, representing 22.5 per cent control. The investigation also revealed that the state government acquired community and individuals' lands and transferred the same to the company, which critics have described as a private firm.
A source close to the CCB confirmed to SaharaReporters that the bureau had revived its investigation into the matter, which had been dormant since the officials repeatedly failed to honour invitations in 2023. "The matter is before the Code of Conduct Bureau," one of the victims of the alleged land grabbing told SaharaReporters on July 22. "The dishonouring of the invitation of the agency since 2023 by the directors of the company lays credence to suspicions." The reactivation of the probe signals a significant escalation in the anti-corruption agency's efforts to hold public officials accountable for their involvement in the acquisition and management of assets linked to the smart city project.
In a sharp rebuttal issued on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, the Enugu State Government, through the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dr. Malachy Agbo, described the SaharaReporters investigation as "malicious" and accused the newspaper of ignoring facts showing that Coal City Eastern Extension Estate Alliance Ltd and the New Enugu Smart City project were government-backed vehicles established to protect state interests. The government insisted that the officials named in the report merely occupy nominal positions as trustees representing the state's interests in state-owned Special Purpose Vehicles, and that none of them benefited financially from the company. "Not even a sitting allowance was paid to any of the board members during their time on the board of these SPVs," the government stated. It further argued that successive administrations had appointed public officials to similar companies over the years and that such appointments did not confer beneficial ownership.
The state also disclosed that all assets and liabilities of Coal City Eastern Alliance Estate Ltd had since been transferred to the Enugu State Housing Development Corporation, which it said had managed the project since 2024. The government equally claimed that the New Enugu City Management Agency was a government agency and not a private business enterprise. "The presence of government officials on its Board is merely an administrative position... Their roles are merely governmental oversight in the administration of a government agency," it stated. However, legal experts have noted that under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020, every incorporated company has a legal personality separate from its shareholders and directors, and the designation of an individual as a Person with Significant Control is a statutory designation that carries legal implications.
The Enugu State Government has strongly condemned the allegations and insisted that its officials are not land grabbers. However, the reactivation of the CCB investigation suggests that the anti-corruption agency is not satisfied with the government's explanations and is determined to get to the bottom of the matter. The probe is expected to examine whether the officials violated the Code of Conduct for Public Officers by failing to declare their interests in the companies or by acquiring assets that could be deemed inconsistent with their official duties. The outcome of the investigation could have far-reaching implications for the officials involved and for the broader integrity of the Enugu State Government's land administration and smart city development programme.
The New Enugu Smart City project, a flagship initiative of Governor Peter Mbah's administration, is intended to transform the state's capital into a modern, integrated urban centre. However, the project has been dogged by controversy from the outset, with allegations of land grabbing, inadequate compensation for affected communities, and questionable legal manoeuvres. The CCB's revived probe adds another layer of scrutiny to the project and raises questions about the transparency and accountability of the government's handling of the development. As the investigation unfolds, the public will be watching closely to see whether the anti-corruption agency can establish the facts and hold those found culpable accountable.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments