The Federal Government yesterday said it would prosecute an Enugu architect, John Emejulu, for allegedly destroying the perimeter fence of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, while executing a court judgment giving him possession of plots of land near the airport undergoing rehabilitation.
Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, made the promise after inspecting the destruction of the perimeter fence covering about 3km.
He insisted that the government was capable of protecting its assets and would punish anyone who destroys any of them.
However, Sirika said the development would not stop the reopening of the airport on August 30.
While taking possession of the land on Wednesday, Emejulu insisted that he purchased it in 2008 from Nike community.
But said he went to court when some government officials wanted to take it from him.
According to him, an Enugu High Court ruled in his favour.
The intervention by the Air Force Grand Training Commandant in Enugu State, Charles O. Obiabaka, reportedly prevented a gunfight between the police guarding Emejulu while executing the judgment and Air Force personnel who stormed the place to stop him.
Sirika, who condemned the level of destruction in the area, described it as “willful act”.
The minister said: “This will certainly be the end of this kind of recklessness. We will not forgive him. All that is involved in this kind of arrangement will be directed by the Chief of Staff, the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the DSS (Department of State Services) to do the needful and bring him to book.
“I am very sad; it is very wrong and we must seize the opportunity and deal with him summarily to serve as a deterrent to others. We are not in a Banana Republic. We are in a federal republic governed by laws.
“Certainly this is not acceptable and we are capable of rising in defence of national assets.”
When asked to quantify the cost of the destruction, Sirika said the contractor, manager of the airport and consultants had been directed to work it out.
