By Pius Awunah
The Senator representing Imo West,Senator Osita Izunaso has denied allegations by 84-year-old cleric, Pastor Esther Jesulanke, that he forcefully evicted her from a property in Abuja,saying that the eviction was carried out legally following a court judgment in his(Izunaso)’s favour.
According to him,he never had any financial dealings with Mrs. Jesulanke and that his original transaction was with one late Mrs. Grace Inyang, a retired magistrate who allegedly fraudulently resold the same house to former lawmaker Mohammed Jega, who later sold it to Mrs. Jesulanke.
“I do not know her. I did not even know she was living in the building before the bailiffs acted on the court order,” Izunaso told reporters.
“My dealings were with Grace Inyang, who sold the house to me, then went ahead to sell it again to Hon. Jega. The old woman should be dealing with Jega, not me, “he added.
Pastor Jesulanke had accused the senator of using thugs to eject her from her home at NASS Quarters, Gudu, Apo, Abuja, in 2015, claiming her belongings were thrown out and the property later renovated and leased out.
She said she bought the house in 2009 for ₦50 million from Mr. Jega, who assured her the title documents were valid.
Recounting her ordeal, the octogenarian said she was harassed repeatedly and eventually locked out of her home.
“I lost everything—furniture, air conditioners, fittings—everything was gone. I’m appealing to President Tinubu and the Chief Justice to help me get justice,” she said at a recent press conference.
But Senator Izunaso maintained he acted strictly within the law.
He said he had paid an initial ₦5 million to Mrs. Inyang for the house before she resold it, forcing him to go to court.
“The court ruled in my favour, and it was the bailiff—not me—that enforced the judgment,” he said.
“Afterward, I deposited ₦30 million as balance payment in court, which Inyang refused to collect, possibly because she had already sold the property to another person,” he maintained.
The senator added that efforts were made to settle the dispute amicably, including an arrangement proposed by the police commissioner for him to add ₦10 million as compensation to Mrs.Jesulanke.
“We agreed, but she later refused, insisting she wanted the house,” he said.
Mr. Jega, who confirmed selling the house to Mrs. Jesulanke, said he had no idea there was any legal dispute over the property when he purchased it from Mrs. Inyang.
“I bought it from her as a Chief Magistrate, unaware of any claim by Senator Izunaso.
“All title documents are with Mrs. Jesulanke, “he explained.
Izunaso, who chairs the Senate Committee on Capital Market, said he regretted the situation but insisted his actions were backed by the court.
“The matter has gone to several authorities, even to former Vice President Osinbajo, but the facts remain clear — I lawfully own the property.”
