Ejuona Obukpapa community in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, on Monday, dissociated itself from an N100 million suit filed against the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN).

The plaintiff, Nnemeka Aleke, dragged UNN to court seeking N100 million in damages for alleged degradation of the community’s environment by the contractor handling the construction of UNN’s 11,900-room capacity hostel, due to wrong channelling of water.

But after a meeting of the leaders of the community, on Monday, the people dissociated themselves from the legal action.

Traditional Ruler of Ejuona Obukpa, HRH Igwe Matthias Ezea, who addressed journalists, described the action of Mr. Aleke as a deliberate attempt to tarnish the image of the community.

“This is to tell the public that Aleke is on his own in that suit, because he has no backing of the community to file any suit against UNN and Viagem Property Investment Limited, the contractor constructing students hostel for the university.

“There was no time the community contemplated or discussed the issue of dragging UNN and her contractor to court, since there is no quarrel between the community and UNN.

“Since the establishment of UNN in 1960, the Ejuona community has enjoyed a cordial relationship with the university,” he said.

The traditional ruler said the community was embarrassed by a recent publication in some sections of the media by Mr. Aleke claiming that he filed the suit against UNN and on behalf of Ejuona community.

Mr. Ezea said that Mr. Aleke does not hold any position in Ejuona community and, therefore, cannot speak or act on behalf of the community, explaining that the community recently visited Professor Charles Igwe, the Vice-Chancellor of UNN, on the matter.

Meanwhile, Aleke’s suit, number HN/86/2020 against UNN and Viagem Property Investment Limited, is pending before an Enugu High Court sitting at Nsukka.