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| FCT Minister Mohammed Bello and the Perm Sec, Dr Babatunde Ajakaiye |
*Abuja businessman drags FCT Minister, Perm Sec, Development Control to court
* FCT Perm Sec. wants to take over my land
Chairman of Silver Proof Nigeria Limited, Mr. Tomothy Bagwams has alleged that the Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye is using his office to dispossess him of his plot of land in the Central Area.
Bagwams whose garden facility situated on Plot 747 A00 in the Central Area of the Federal Capital City was demolished by officials of the Department of Development Control on Wednesday November 16, 2016 maintained that Ajakaiye orchestrated the demolition for reasons outside public interest.
According to him, two days after the demolition, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye, in company of some foreign investors who visited the demolished sites for inspection discussing possible use for the land despite a court summon that joined him as a defendant.
Bagwams who insisted that the Permanent Secretary gave instruction to the Department of Development Control to demolish the garden sought legal redress of the action.
Consequently, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Malam Mohammed Bello and the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council and Director of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Parks and Recreation have been dragged before an Appeal Court by Chairman of Silver Proof Nigeria Limited, Mr. Tomothy Bagwams.
Bagwams appeals to the Court to restrain them from further demolition of his properties on Plot 747 A00 in the Central Area of the Federal Capital City, a land designated as District Recreational Park which "was dully allocated to Silver Proof Nigeria Limited by the Federal Capital Territory administration in 2007 with all the appropriate documents with the sole purpose of developing a garden on the plot."
In the suit: FCT/HC/CV/2020/16 Bagwams pointed out that there have been attempts in the past by the Federal Ministry of Finance to hijack the land from him on the ground that the location constitutes a security threat.
However, that fear was allayed when the FCT Administration wrote to the Ministry clarifying that the area is a sub-system of Green Area network within the Ministries zone in the detailed Central Area Urban Design prepared by Messrs. Kenzo Tange and Urtec in 1998.
He said the Deed of Lease between him and the FCTA on the Park was signed and sealed on July 16, 2007 stressing that all the accompanied fees requested of him by the law have been paid in respect of the Deed.
Bagwams who wondered the sudden interest by the administration on the plot lamented the loss that resulted from the demolition exercise which was carried out in the presence of heavily armed Police men and Soldiers during which journalists who attempted to cover the exercise were thoroughly beaten said his investment has gone down the drain.
His words: I can't still understand what is happening. I was shocked when I received calls from my staff on Wednesday that officials of Department of Development Control were demolishing my garden. I thought it was a joke.
"All my investment had gone because everything was demolished. Nothing was spared. I do not know the intention of the FCT administration with this exercise because I have all the relevant documents that back up the allocation of the place.
"I have over 30 staff working at that garden, now they are all out of job because of this mindless demolition. We were in Court but I was surprised without being served the court ruling and they came to demolish the place. Is this the government we voted for? Is this the change we were promised?
"It seems there are higher forces or powers that be that are interested in taking the land from me since I'm nobody. If not, why coming to the place with police and Soldiers to intimidate us and even harass journalists."
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