A piece of family land has pitched an American-based Rev Fr Michael Ezeatu of Adazi Enu in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra state with his supervising Catholic Bishop of Awka, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor on one side and his siblings, Messrs Olisa Ezeatu and Arinze Ezeatu.
The seeming war of attrition stems from what the family described as the Rev Father Mike’s unyielding attitude, especially as it concerns their collective family land.
The Head of Ezeatu family, Mr Olisa Ezeatu and his youngest brother, Arinze in their save-our-soul alert to the Bishop stated that their relationship with their sibling, Rev Father Mike, has broken down irretrievably.
They alleged that the Rev father’s conducts have become traumatic and disdainful to their family and community, principally his land grabbing tendency.
According to their letter to the Bishop, “My Lord, we can no longer bear the shame and disgrace our brother’s actions and utterances bring to us and we need your help to redress the situation.
“We are tired of being asked, “Is he still a priest?”.
“Our desire is that God will help our brother to represent a true Catholic priest.
“Secondly, antecedents have shown that Fr. Mike and Joseph (his mentor) are capable of anything for the sake of money and property including bloodshed….” the letter stated in part.
When contacted, Bishop Ezeokafor admitted receiving the petition of the family against the priest.
He said over the phone that he would continue to mediate on the issue with the hope of resolving it peacefully.
But that if in the end they fail to get satisfaction, they would be free to seek justice elsewhere.
According to the Bishop, “the Rev Father lives in the United States; anytime he comes around, I will continue with the mediation.
“But if in the end they are not satisfied with my mediation on the matter they can look for justice elsewhere”.
Consequent upon the letter/petition, the family alongside the Rev Father met with the Bishop.
Incidentally the Bishop’s intervention yielded little or no difference as the Rev Father was said to have entered the disputed family land and fell economic trees therein almost immediately to assert possession.
The brothers who were insisting that all what they need was not justice said, “What we want is for Father Mike to leave us alone.
“Let him enjoy his wealth and leave us alone in peace. That’s all we need from him.
“We can’t allow him to take our family land that is not due to him.”
Consequently, they quickly briefed a legal practitioner, D.C Ononiba, Esq to advance their cause.
In a caution letter to Rev Fr Mike, the family said, “warning to henceforth desist from further meddling into our common land and to stop any further destruction of economic trees on the said land as you have no right whatsoever to do so without our client’s (Olisa’s) consent or permission.
“It is our instruction that you are a catholic priest and a younger brother of full blood with our client.
“It is also our further instructions that our client’s father married two wives during his life time and that his first wife Late Caroline Ezeatu begot only one son namely Hon Joseph Ezeatu while his second wife Late Augustina Ezeatu begot four sons namely our client Olisa Ezeatu who is her first son, late Patrick Ezeatu who is the second son, yourself who is the third son and Arinze Ezeatu the last son.
“We were also informed that late Patrick Ezeatu died in January, 2013 without any issue and in accordance with the custom and tradition of Adazi Enu the said parcel of land which was given to Late Patrick Ezeatu as homestead before his death automatically reverted back to the sons of Augustina Ezeatu being the immediate siblings to the said late Patrick Ezeatu.
“It is also our instructions that our client has repeatedly sent emissaries to you to warn you and your cohorts to desist from your actions and to stay away from the said land as your actions of forcefully entering the said land without the consent and permission of our client as the 1st son of your mother amount to insubordination and gross misconduct unbecoming of a catholic priest.
“In view of all the circumstances and our instructions we are warning you and your cohorts to henceforth desist from all your action with respect to the said land”.
Further investigation within the Adazi Enu community revealed that the matter had dragged on for years and that they are afraid the situation might degenerate to physical combat and assault that might lead to spilling of blood. They even want the town Union, the police to intervene without further delay.
From Chuks Collins, Awka