Hon. Amobi Ogah Presents Explosive Petition in House of Representatives Over Alleged Illegal Quarry License

Fresh tension may be brewing in Uturu, Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State, following allegations of illegal mining operations and disputed land consent linked to a quarry license, a matter now formally presented before the House of Representatives of Nigeria.

The petition was officially presented on the floor of the House of Representatives by the member representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency, Honorable Amobi Godwin Ogah, drawing national attention to what community leaders described as a potentially explosive dispute capable of destabilizing the area.

The petition was authored by the Traditional Ruler of Imobi Autonomous Community, Sir Simeon Chukwuemeka, who raised alarm over alleged illegal mining activities linked to Limei International Company Nigeria Limited.

According to the petition dated March 6, 2026, the traditional ruler alleged that certain individuals within the community conspired to grant unauthorized consent to the mining company, enabling it to obtain Quarry Lease License No. QLS 64048 LS from the Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office.

The license reportedly covers nine cadastral units of mining land within Imobi Autonomous Community, an area described as rich in granite deposits.

The monarch explained that the community comprises three villages Amaidi, Amanyanwu and Onuzo and insisted that the consent used by the company to secure the mining lease was allegedly obtained without the approval of the legitimate landowners or the recognized traditional authority.

According to him, the individuals who allegedly signed the consent letter do not possess land within the affected area, raising serious questions about the legitimacy of the document submitted during the licensing process.

The petition named several individuals accused of allegedly facilitating the consent used by the company to secure the mining license.

However, the monarch maintained that the consent letter was improperly executed, stressing that such approvals must legally be endorsed by actual landowners and the recognized traditional ruler of the community.

He further stated that the individual who signed the document as the paramount ruler was not a titled chief or recognized traditional authority in Imobi Autonomous Community.

Concerned by the development, the monarch revealed that he had earlier written to the Director-General of the Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office on January 7, 2025, challenging the validity of the consent letter used to secure the quarry license.

The petition also raised concerns that the dispute surrounding the mining operations could escalate into serious security challenges within the community.

According to the monarch, tensions have already begun to rise due to allegations that security operatives could be deployed to enforce access to the mining site, a situation he warned might trigger confrontation among residents.

He warned that any attempt to forcibly commence mining operations in the disputed area could lead to a breakdown of law and order and possibly result in loss of lives and property.

The monarch further accused the company of allegedly adopting a "divide and ruleÔÇØ approach within the community, which he said could worsen internal tensions.

In the petition presented by Hon. Amobi Ogah, the traditional ruler urged the Speaker of the House of Representatives and federal lawmakers to intervene urgently to prevent a potential crisis.

He specifically requested that the National Assembly use its oversight authority to prevail on the Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office to revoke or forfeit the mining title issued to the company, arguing that it was obtained through misrepresentation and misleading consent documentation.

The community leader emphasized that prompt federal intervention would help restore peace and prevent the dispute from escalating into a wider conflict.

The presentation of the petition on the floor of the House of Representatives has now brought the matter into the national spotlight, with observers noting that disputes involving mineral resource ownership, community consent and mining licenses have increasingly become sensitive issues in several parts of Nigeria.

For residents of Imobi Autonomous Community in Achara Uturu, the outcome of the petition may determine the next phase of the dispute surrounding the controversial quarry operations.