Kaduna State High Court has warned the Commandant of Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Maj-Gen. Muhammed Inuwa Idris, that he risks being imprisoned, if he continues to disobey court order in respect of a landed property.
The warning, which was contained in ‘Form 48’ and dated May 25, was signed by the court registrar. It was said to have been served on the commandant through a courier firm last Thursday.
The court document, titled: “Notice of Consequences of Disobedience to Court Order”, reads: “To Major General Muhammed Inuwa Idris (Commandant of Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna). Take notice that unless you obey the directions contained in this order, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison.”
The Nation gathered that the two properties in contention – both in Barnawa GRA, Kaduna – initially belonged to NDA.
But they were sold by the Federal Government through Presidential Implementation Committee to two occupants, late Mr. Joseph Kingo Lafidi and late D. Akpam, who were then workers of the military institution.
NDA authorities allegedly evicted their widows, Mrs. Elizabeth J. Lafidi and Dorcas D. Akpam, from the property in 2010.
The widows, however, took the matter to court and won in April 2014.
The court’s judgment obtained on April 15, 2014, a copy of which was made available to The Nation, reads in part: “An Order of Perpetual Injunction restraining the defendant, especially the 2nd defendant (Nigerian Defence Academy) whether by themselves, agents, servants, workmen, officers, privies and assigns whomsoever and howsoever otherwise from trespassing upon or disturbing the 1st and 2nd Plaintiffs peaceful enjoyment of the properties known as Nos. 11 Gongola Road, Flat 4, Barnawa GRA and 36A Gongola Road, Flat D, Barnawa GRA, Kaduna respectively.”
But, counsel to the widows, Barrister Lekan Oyerinde, who spoke with The Nation in Kaduna, said to their surprise, after the execution of the court judgment and installation of the “original owners” of the property by the court bailiffs on May 21, on the order of the NDA Commandant, armed soldiers forcefully evicted the widows from the property. The soldiers, he added, later erected fence around the property and stationed armed guards there.
When contacted on phone, a source close to the academy, said the matter is in Appeal Court and, therefore, he will not want to comment on it.
The source, who did not provide the appeal number, said: “The widows were dubious. NDA has announced severally that no worker should get any house through monetisation because the academy is an institution where people come and go.
“So, there is no way it can monetise its houses. If it does, where will the people coming after live?”
He added that the widows were not told to evacuate from the staff quarters until the entitlement of their husbands are paid.
Similarly, the academy’s Director of Coordination, Commodore Yakubu Wambai, was also quoted that the case was on appeal and as such, the military institution cannot comment on the matter.