By Vivian Okejeme
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has been asked to stop the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from further trespassing on plots of land located at Maitama Extension.
A firm, Ogenyi Global Resource, who sued for herself and on behalf of other land owners in the area, through their counsel, Amobi Nzelu, said the minister had no right to encroach into their lands.
Other defendants in the suit marked CU/2566/16 are the Chief of Army Staff, Army Council and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
In the suit, the firm is asking the court to order the defendants to vacate the plots of land which they have forcibly occupied without any valid court order.
In the alternative, they are asking the court to allocate to them another plots of land in a choice area in Abuja or award a compensation of N50 million as damages for the action of the FCT minister.
In the statement of claim, the firm accused the FCT minister of unilaterally revoking the plots allocated to them without statutory notice.
According to the plaintiff, the plots of land were duly allocated to him and others without encumbrances.
Nzelu told the court that the revocation of the land did not comply with the provision of the Land. Use Act.
The land owners said they will be willing to accept monetary compensation to show goodwill in the matter.
They said the cost of a plot of land in the said Maitama Extension is between N200 million and N300 million.
The plaintiff accused the FCT Minister and the Nigerian Army of violently possessing the plots of land for about a month.
They said the defendants had no right to take over their lands without any valid court order.
According to them, the defendants can only exercise the right of revocation for overriding public interest and nothing more.
No date has been fixed for the hearing.
