Landowners in Abuja threatens court action over reallocation

Landowners at Mpape 1 Annex in Abuja have threatened action against the Federal Capital Territory Administration over what they call ‘unlawful reallocation ’ of land allocated to them in Mpape District.

In a statement by their counsel, I.M. Gadzama of Silver Shield Chambers, the property owners claim that the FCT Minister, Malam Mohammed Bello had reallocated their lands to mainly members of the National Assembly without prior notification.

“Our clients are the bonafide title owners of the properties situated and lying at Mpape 1 Annex with registered title documents and the properties are at various levels of development duly approved by the minister’s office since 2003.
“Sixteen years thereafter the present minister of FCT in connivance with the National Assembly members and others redesigned substantial part of the Mpape District as Maitama II comprising originally of 1,300 plots into 2,300 plots of same and now reallocated same to themselves,” the statement said.

The statement said the beneficiaries of the ‘unlawful’ allocations were already selling the plots to general public “causing chaos between existing allottees and the subsequent purchasers.”
The property owners rejected reallocation of plots and have called for reversal by the FCTA saying “treat this as our client’s notice of intention to sue in the event of refusal, neglect or any inadvertence.”

Credit: Daily Trust