The Office of the Governor of Central Equatoria State has dismissed allegations circulating on social media accusing Governor Emmanuel Adil Anthony of involvement in land grabbing, describing the claims as false and politically motivated.

A social media whistleblower identified as Onen released a video commentary featuring an image of a demolished mud house accompanied by an audio recording of a woman alleged to be a victim of land grabbing.

The video reportedly resurfaced around the time Governor Emmanuel Adil Anthony was first appointed to his current position.

Onen also shared a letter issued last year by  the state director of surveyor urging a review of a list of allotted plots to some officials included Governor Adil, and returning them to their rightful owners.

A press statement, the Governor’s office said the accusations are part of a deliberate campaign aimed at undermining both the Governor’s reputation and the state government.

The statement emphasized that Governor Adil has consistently demonstrated a firm commitment to combating land grabbing and safeguarding the rights of lawful landowners in Juba and across the state.

According to the release, the government has implemented several measures to restore order in land administration, including strengthening land demarcation and documentation systems, allocating plots to rightful owners, and enforcing administrative actions against individuals and groups involved in illegal land occupation.

Addressing concerns over a specific plot in Jebel Nyoka, the statement noted that the land had been “unprocedural allocated” by former mayor Kalisto Lado and distributed to individuals. It added that Governor Adil later issued a directive cancelling the allocation. Efforts to contact Kalisto for prompt response were not immediately successful.

The Governor’s office urged the public to disregard what it described as misinformation being spread for political gain, reaffirming its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the rule of law.

It further warned that legal action would be taken against individuals behind what it called a sustained campaign of misinformation and slander targeting the Governor.

“The state leadership remains at the forefront of fighting land grabbing and all related malpractice,” the statement concluded.