The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Land

  • Court upholds Iba chieftaincy family’s claim over land

    The dispute over an expanse of land in Iba community, a suburb of Lagos, has ended. Justice E.A. Adebajo of the Lagos High Court held that the land belongs to the Oniba of Iba and the Iba chieftaincy family.

    The traditional ruler of Ibaland, Oba Yushua Goriola Oseni and some families in Iba Local Community Development Area (LCDA) had been fighting over the land for years.

    In his judgment in the suit numbered: LD/3057/1995 Oniba and the, Justice Adebajo held that the Iba chieftaincy family are the rightful owners of the land comprising Isashi, Odan-Ile and Mebamu.

    Justice Adebajo declared that, “the defendant is entitled to the statutory right of occupancy over the whole of Isashi land.”

    He further declared that the Oniba of Iba is the consenting authority for Isashi.

    The judge also held that the claimants – Pa Suraju Jinodu, chiefs Michael Ashade, Ebenezer Babalola Ashade, Amos Taiwo and Simeon Idowu Alafia-Akapo “are not the overlords of Isashi and Odan-Isashi and are not consenting authority” over the land.

    Justice Adebajo issued a perpetual order restraining the claimants and their agents, from further arrogating to themselves, the right to the ownership of isashi land or consent to the appointment of village head (Baale) of Isashi and Odan-Isashi.

    Following the judgment, the Iba chieftaincy family, through a statement issued by the family’s lawyer, advised residents of the area not to engage in any discussion over the land with anyone than the adjudged owner of the land – Oniba of Iba.

     

  • Firms battle over land

    IN the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), a piece of land is everything.

    Its exorbitant cost has ensured that estate developers are always at loggerheads, slugging it out in both the media and law courts.

    Plots 8, 70 , 77 and 97of Dakwo  District Cadestral Zone C08 have been the subjects of such battles since 2010 as  Messrs Broadfields Intermidiaries Ltd, Messrs Esil Baltimor Ltd, Messrs Unity Hills Garden Estate Ltd, Patmos Group of Schools, and Global Menillioum Ltd accused Falplins Nigeria Ltd of encroaching into their plots.

    Falplins Nigeria Ltd has also raised the alarm in the media that the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), accusing the Director of Development Control, Yahaya Yusuf of abuse of office and sentiments in the matter.

    Meanwhile, the Managing Director, Patmos Group of Schools, Mr. Patrick Ehime explained to journalists that after meeting the requirements for allocation of a school plot, the FCDA allocated the plot to him.

    According to him, on taking surveyors to the plot, he discovered that Falplins Limited had already erected buildings on the plot.

    He noted that when he reported to the Development Control it was discovered that the firm had no title document and building approval, an indication of illegal structures.

    His words: “I was given a school plot to build based on the requirement of FCDA. And after meeting the requirements I was allocated the plot. On getting here with the surveyor, we discovered that Falplins Limited has already built on all the plot. And I went to the Development Control to report. We discovered that he does not have title document; he does not have building approval.

    “All the buildings he built on Plot 77, Plot 97, Plot 70 and Plot 8 are all illegal… But for you to get a legal plot, a legal house in Abuja, you must submit your drawing to the Development Control, with your title document. After verifying that your title document is authentic they proceed to give you approval.”

    He also noted that a court gave a verdict on the matter last year restraining  Falplins Nigeria Limited to Plot 102 measuring 13.5 hectares.

  • Five killed in land dispute

    Five persons have been killed and about 25 houses burnt in a renewed land dispute between Mbagur and Mbawuar communities in Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State.

    The Head of Mbawuar community, Zaki Terkula Kuha, and five tax collectors have been arrested by the police for their alleged involvement in the clash.

    A fight broke out when members of the Mbangur community allegedly encroached on a piece of land, which Mbawuar community claimed to be its own.

    Schools, churches and markets have been shut and residents have fled the area.

    The Chairman of Vandeikya Local Government, Mr. Benedict Kume, urged the people to eschew violence and embrace peace.

    He ordered the deployment of policemen in the area to maintain peace.

    Police spokesman Daniel Ezeala confirmed the incident, but said the command was yet to be officially briefed.

    He added that men of the Special Anti Robbery Squad

    (SARS) and the Operation Zenda had been deployed in the communities to maintain law and order.

     

  • Family urges court to uphold ownership of land

    The Oduwole family of Ishashi in Ibeshe community,Ikorodu, Lagos has asked the state’s High Court to uphold its claim to the ownership of an expanse of land in Megun village (Ishashi) and void the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) issued to a businessman, Bashiru Olaide.

    The family argued that the C of O and other documents obtained by Olaide on the land, and purportedly registered at the state’ Land Registry, were allegedly obtained illegally because his claim to the land is being disputed.

    This is contained in a counter claim the Oduwole family filed in a suit before the Lagos High Court, Ikorodu, instituted by Olaide, who claimed to have lawfully purchased the land measuring about 66.436 acres.

    It is Olaide’s contention in the suit marked: IKD/112/12 that he bought the land from the Olubeshe Palace chiefs, who he believed are the rightful owners of the land.

    He prayed the court to, among others, declare him the rightful owner of the land, to which he was issued a C of O dated October 5, 2011 and registered as 45/45/2011T at Land Registry, Alausa, Ikeja.

    Mrs Bola Kalejaye, Tabura Anifowoshe, Jamiu Anifowoshe, Rasheed Akanni and Muraina Oduwole, who are representatives of the Oduwole family and named as defendants in the suit, stated that there was never a time that anybody outside the family exercised any possessory right over the land.

    They added that although the land has been a subject of litigation since 2005 any other person, who is laying claim to the land, outside “the Oduwole descendant family is a land speculator.”

    The family’s representatives stated that the land was vested in the Olubeshe in Council because their ancestors had planted crops on the land in dispute, together with other parcels of land belonging to Shogabi Olutokun Ashashi, the progenitor of the defendants.

    They argued, in the 66-paragraph counter claim, that that the large expanse of land was bequeathed to them by their progenitors and that none of the “Oduwole descendants has never sold, alienated, partitioned, or in any way, transferred their interest in title of the vast land area” to anybody.

    They stated that they have exercised continuous and uninterrupted possession of the land for over two centuries, until recently “when the claimant’s vendors forcefully entered the land and began to sell the land to innocent Nigerians under the pretext that they were acting on behalf of Olubeshe-in-council and Balogun family.”

    The defendants argued that the land is covered by a registered survey plan carried out by Surveyor O. Olokun dated May 20, 1980 with plan No. LAKS/LA/1980/121.

    Members of the Oduwole family therefore pray the court to declare that they are the persons entitled to the customary right of occupancy over the land.

    They want the court to declare that they are the persons entitled to exercise acts of ownership and absolute control of the land and that the alleged “forcible entry of the claimant into counter claimants’ said land and purported erection of fence thereon were wrongful and illegal.”

    They urged the court to declare that the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy, dated October 5, 2011 in favour of the claimant (Olaide) with respect to the disputed land was wrong, illegal and fraudulent.

    The defendants further urged the court to set aside the purported purchase of the land, and the C of O registered at land registry, Alausa, Ikeja. They are claiming N1 million as general damages against the claimant (Olaide) for alleged trespass on the land.

     

  • Lobi Stars land Barnabas Imenger

    Lobi Stars land Barnabas Imenger

    CAF Confederations Cup campaigners, Lobi Stars, have signed Nigerian International, Barnabas Imenger, after the expiration of his six-month contract at Sweden’s second tier side, Trelleborgs FF.

    The signing of the Nigerian International who left rivals, Kwara United for Sweden in 2012, is a significant coup for Lobi supremo, Dominic Iorfa, who is plotting a raid on the continent and domestic assignments.

    Imenger, who earned his international debut against Angola and got a second against Egypt, both in 2012, has since resumed training with the Makurdi based side.

    Lobi Stars will benefit from his skillful movement and excellent finishing. Supersport.com learnt that Imenger has been handed number 21 at the club.

    “It’s good to be back in the country and I’m looking forward to a good time at Lobi Stars. As a striker, my ambition is to score goals for the team and play well for my teammates to score too. I’m okay with 21 because the other numbers are unavailable,” Imenger said to supersport.com.

    Imenger started his football lessons at Lobi Stars juniors before heading for the Kwara Football Academy, where he was tutored by former Nigerian gaffer, Clemens Westerhof.

    The Kwara Football Academy eventually loaned him to Kwara United, where he became a cult hero.

    Imenger was outstanding at Kwara United and former coach of the team, Tunde Sanni later attributed the team’s problem in front of goal to the exit of the youngster.

    Interestingly, Imenger reunites with his father, Barnabas, who is a backroom staff at the Makurdi side managed by Iorfa, a former Nigerian International and Seoul ’88 Olympic star.

  • Delta to begin land mapping for cassava

    The Delta State government has said it would begin land mapping for the proposed Federal and State government commercial cassava production in Abraka.

    The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr Misan Ukubeyinje, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen during a joint inspection tour of the 6,000 hectares allocated for the project in Abraka.

    According to him, the state Ministry of Lands, Survey and Urban Development will commence the mapping of the land areas quickly to enable the planting of cassava commence on target in April.

    Ukubeyinje said that the Federal Government would be establishing 18 of such farm projects across the country, adding that the state government was fortunate to be one of the beneficiaries.

    He said that although a partnership project, the state government was responsible for providing access roads to link the various location of the farm because the 6,000 hectares may not be concentrated in one location.

    Ukubeyinje said that the modalities and cost of running the projects would be spelt out, adding that it would be managed by experts in the private sector.

    “The Federal government will soon commence the process of land clearing and preparations for the planting to commence in April while the cassava processing mill will be completed before the end of this year.

    “We have inspected the land needed for both the cassava processing mills which is about 20 hectares and that for the cassava cultivation.

    “We can also partner the neighbouring communities around Abraka if we need more land for the projects,’’ Ukubeyinje said.

    The commissioner lauded the monarch, His Royal Majesty, Air Vice Marshall Lucky Ararile, the Ovie of Umiaghwa-Abraka Kingdom for his understanding and support.

    He said that the monarch did not only approve the use of the land for the projects but was working ahead of the team by engaging the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture to produce out growers.

     

  • A land deal gone awry

    A land deal gone awry

    •FAAN, concessionaire bicker over plot

     

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN) and the Chief Harry Akande-owned AIC Hotels Limited are squabbling over a land at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos. The land was said to have been given to AIC to build an international hotel, but FAAN is contending that recent developments bordering on safety and security have altered the equation. KELVIN OSA-OKUNBOR reports.

     

    Some years ago, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) ceded a land around the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMIA), Ikeja to AIC Hotels Limited to build an international hotel under a concession arrangement.

    The firm is owned by Chief Harry Akande.

    The deal has gone awry as the parties are squabbling over the land. FAAN is claiming to have repossessed the land, but AIC is insisting that it has an agreement with the landlord which has not been vacated.

    Neither side is ready to shift ground. FAAN says it is reviewing its concession agreements with many organisations in tandem with public interest. Recent developments, it said, made it imperative for the status quo to be altered. Citing security reasons, FAAN said it is leaving nothing to chance in ensuring that all concessions, including lease agreement on the use of land around MMIA guarantee public interest.

    FAAN’s resolve to work out a new template for concessions is a fallout of its lingering tussle with AIC over the land near the diplomatic car park of the MMIA .

    While the firm insists that the land belongs to it, by virtue of the approval it got from government in 1998, FAAN claims that the issue has been overtaken by events.

    The concessionaire’s attempts to resume construction at the site, which it abandoned some years ago, have been frustrated by FAAN.

    Since the crisis broke, FAAN and the firm have been throwing brickbats. Other issues have also reared their head.

    Resolving the dispute remains a major challenge. AIC is asking for $78 million compensation, which FAAN considers outrageous.

    The question being asked is why should FAAN pay the concessionaire that much, when the firm has nothing on ground to show that it means business, after many years of inability to deliver the project?

    The General Manager, Corporate Communication, FAAN, Mr Yakubu Dati, accused the firm of taking the law into its hands by attempting to forcefully gain access to the land belonging to the Federal Government.

    Said Dati: “On January 13, AIC Limited, in an unprecedented act of brigandage by a private investor, forcefully took possession of part of Murtala Muhammed International Airport land with the help of armed policemen and hired thugs thereby causing a security breach at the airport.

    “Again on January 24, thugs hired by the company physically assaulted top officials of FAAN who went to inspect the site of the incident of January 14, causing bodily harm to some of them.”

    Dati said FAAN has alerted relevant security agencies to the security risk posed by the continued presence of armed thugs at a site separated only from the tarmac of the Murtala Muhammed Airport by a mesh fence, adding that the authority has increased security surveillance to ensure the hoodlums do not take undue advantage of their unauthorised presence close to the airport to perpetrate any unlawful act.

    He said: ”It is imperative we state that contrary to claims by AIC, the company has no court order authorising it to take possession of any portion of land at MMIA because there was no dispute over land between FAAN and AIC Limited.

    “The case between the parties went into arbitration, which concluded that FAAN should pay a compensation of $74 million to AIC for depriving it of 35 years revenue as implied in the concession agreement. FAAN has, however, appealed against the judgment of that arbitration and the case is yet to be determined.

    “We feel that the reasonable thing for AIC to do is to pursue the payment of this compensation, rather than resort to self-help by forcefully taking possession of the land belonging to the Federal Government, and by so doing, exposed the country’s foremost gateway to serious security threat, especially considering the present security situation in the country.

    “The portion of land allocated for the project was meant for the expansion of the international terminal and apron, under the airport’s master plan. Again, siting the hotel so close to the restricted area of the airport clearly jeopardised security and safety at the airport.”

    Dati said the intrigue by the concessionaire is one of the steps taken by some private sector players to derail the implementation of the transformation agenda of the government.

    FAAN, he said, would not be deterred because by March, construction of a new international terminal for MMIA as envisaged in the airport master plan will begin on the land. He said the government has already entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China for this project, which will effectively turn MMIA into a major hub in the West African air transport region.

    He said : “ Without prejudice to the fact that the Federal Government did not find the parcel of land in question fit for a hotel project from the beginning, this land is being acquired now by the government in the public interest for the reasons stated earlier.

    “It is curious that AIC chose this time to forcefully enter into the said piece of land, having kept quiet for over 15 years. We hate to believe that this act of brigandage is a calculated attempt to blackmail the Federal Government, which is on a mission to rescue the aviation industry from the rot that resulted from many years of neglect.

    “We are informing all aviation stakeholders that FAAN has the mandate of government to transform all our airports to meet acceptable international standards and no act of blackmail, or intimidation can deter the government from accomplishing this mandate,” Dati said.

    Speaking on the issue, the Personal Assistant to Chief Harry Akande, Mr Gbenga Akinyemi, said the company was on the land by virtue of the lease agreement it entered into with FAAN since February 1998.

    He alleged that personnel of FAAN numbering about 20, led by a retired Colonel in conjunction with security agencies, chased workers out of the site last week. He insisted that the land belonged to the company.

    He said there was a subsisting court order, which stopped FAAN from coming into the land to harass its workers.

    He said: “I don’t know why they are here because they are not supposed to come here and disturb the on-going construction work. This is a development that has been approved since 1998 when we had the lease agreement signed.

    He said: “What FAAN is saying is not right. In a society that is normal, that kind of a statement is outrageous and uncalled for. In addition, there is a 50-year lease, which is still subsisting till now. Even if FAAN insists that the land is too close to the airport, there are some security measures in place to ensure total security of the environment. There are airport hotels around the world attached to terminals like in Amsterdam airport and others.

    “I would say FAAN is talking from both sides of its mouth. First, they claimed the land belongs to them and secondly, they said they are so concerned about the security of the airport.”

    Dati has, however, urged the firm to strive to be on the side of the law, rather than holding on to double claims.

    He said: “The land was given to them for 50 years, but there was a problem because part of this land was supposed to be for expansion of the airport. So an arbitrator was appointed, and after the whole arguments, the arbitrator said they cannot have this land, but they will be compensated to the tune of $78million, but FAAN is saying it does not have such amount for compensation.

    “So, the issue has already been settled. The land belongs to FAAN. He can’t collect compensation and still want to collect the land.”

    As the tussle over the land gathers momentum, stakeholders in the aviation sector have urged FAAN to overhaul its concession agreement template in order to attract investors.

    Speaking in an interview, the General Manager , Administration and Business Development, AIC Hotel Limited, Chief Niyi Akande, said the land was leased to AIC Hotel Limited in 1998 and the agreement was registered as NUmber 55 on page 55 in Volume 2010 of the Land Registry of Lagos State.

    Akande said: “There is a court injunction which is still subsisting. We did not go through the back door. They leased the land to us for 50 years. We signed an agreement and we did not just come here to take the land. FAAN should obey court decisions.”

    On February, 18, 2002, Justice R.O Nwodo, granted AIC Limited an injunction restraining FAAN from disturbing AIC Limited from conducting its legal business on the land.”

    With men of the police keeping watch over the disputed land to avoid any break down of law and order, the controversy still rages.

    Will overriding public interest, national security and other safety considerations stop AIC Hotel Limited from building its proposed hotel at the Lagos International Airport? Only time will tell.

    But,the commissioner of police, Murtala Muhammed Airport Command, Mr Olatunde Caulkrick, said the Police will maintain security at the site until peace returns.

    Director of Legal Services, FAAN, Mr Jacob Mark, said: “All the land around the airport anywhere in Nigeria belongs to the Federal Government. Not to any individual. When the land is given to any individual or organisation, it is given as lease, under some terms and conditions for a specified number of years that the agreement covers.

    In the case of AIC Hotel Limited, which claims to own land at the airport, it is unthinkable for anybody to reason that way and hold on to such argument.

    “The land is vested to FAAN by the government. For anybody to hold on to a parcel of land, it is unthinkable for anybody to think he or she owns the land. Such claim is a misnormer, unacceptable and a twist of the truth and law. Nobody can own any land around the airport permanently.

    Though FAAN granted a concession to AIC Hotel Limited in 1998, but, in 2001, FAAN realised that because of several implications, it can no longer validate the approval given to AIC Hotel Limited, part of which is the closeness of the land to the taxi way of the MMIA. No responsible government will allow anybody build a hotel adjacent to the taxi way, FAAN argued.

    “Imagine, how close the land is to aircraft landing and taking off. And what was AIC Hotel Limited supposed to build on that land, a hotel. For God sake, it is only an irresponsible operator that will come and build a hotel near the airport taxi way, where people, visitors who have different intentions can lodge and do anything sinister to any aircraft taking off or landing from their hotel rooms. This is one of the reasons why we revoked the agreement.

    “Apart from that, the Federal Government through FAAN can say, agreed, we gave the go ahead to build a hotel, but based on emerging security trends and challenges, as well as overidding public interest, we can no longer. allow you to go ahead.

    “We are now saying no, because government is not irresponsible and will not expose Nigerians and foreigners to unwarranted dangers by allowing anybody build a hotel near the airport runway or terminal building. It is not as if FAAN, or the Federal Government is out to shortchange any concessionaire. That is far from the truth. The Federal Government has right any time to revoke any agreement that does not protect public interest. We will not allow terrorists have access to vulnerable areas in the. country, including the airports.

    “That is where we are. We went for arbitration to let AIC Hotel Limited know that the amount of money awarded to them is too much. The firm went for arbitration and six years after, they are claiming, third party relationships as damages. They did not even put a single block on the ground. Why should FAAN pay them huge millions as compensation? That is where we stand as an organisation. Though, we agree with the terms of the arbitration that the firm be paid, the amount put at $57 million is far beyond what FAAN can handle.

    “We are handling it at different levels. The firm does not have a right to the land and cannot use force to take the land. It is unacceptable. Not in Nigeria of today. We are pursuing it at different levels, not land that belongs to the Federal Government. Even, if mistakes were made in the agreement in the past by FAAN, but the present leadership will not allow such infraction. Personal interest must die when national and overidding public interest comes to the front burner,” FAAN said.

     

     

  • Eagles land Durban, for Mali

    Eagles land Durban, for Mali

    PLAYERS and officials of Super Eagles arrived Durban yesterday ahead of Wednesday’s Africa Cup of Nations Semi -final clash against Eagles of Mali. The team will be staying in Southern Sun hotel in Durban.

    The Super Eagles defeated Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire 2-1 in a quarter final on Sunday to set up a semi final game against Mali, which also defeated Bafana Bafana of South Africa on penalties on Saturday.

    The Nigerian team led by the team’s head coach Stephen Keshi left Rustenburg early Monday in a luxury bus to Johannesburg to connect a flight to Durban.

    Eagles departed for the Oliver Thambo airport, Johannesburg around 1pm to the King Shaka airport, Durban which is a 45-minute journey.

    Meanwhile, the team head coach, Stephen Keshi and captain, Joseph Yobo will address a world press conference by 3:30pm South African time today (2:30 Nigerian time) at the Moses Mabida Stadium while the players will have the last training session by 4:30pm South African time (3:30pm Nigerian time).

    The training being the last for the Eagles before the game will be closed to fans and will only be opened to journalists for 15 minutes.

  • Gospel singer Aragbaye accuses land dealer of N6.5m fraud

    •’I’m willing to refund 60 per cent’

    Popular gospel singer Evangelist Funmi Aragbaye has accused an Ibadan land dealer, Mrs. Adetoun Oladeji (a.k.a. Mama ke) of defrauding her of N6.5 million.

    Speaking with The Nation yesterday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Mrs. Aragbaye said she met Mrs. Oladeji through a woman pastor in 2010, when she needed land to build a church.

    She alleged that Mrs. Oladeji sold three acres of land at Gbokpa village, Ibadan, to her for N6.5 million.

    The singer said though she was given documents of the land, she later found out that it did not belong to Mrs. Oladeji.

    Mrs. Aragbaye said when she requested for a refund, Mrs. Oladeji gave her a cheque, but it was rejected by the bank because there was no money in the account.

    Since then, she said, all efforts to recover the money have failed.

    Mrs. Oladeji acknowledged selling the land to the singer for N6.5 million in 2010, but said Mrs. Aragbaye should be prepared to accept 60 per cent refund.

    She accused Mrs. Aragbaye of colluding with the family that owns the land to get a refund as well as get the land back from them.

    Mrs. Oladeji said the singer had an altercation with her son, Mr. Akinyele Oladeji, and the case had been reported to the police.

    She challenged Mrs. Aragbaye to sue her.

    Mrs. Oladeji said Mrs. Aragbaye could arrange to collect the 60 per cent at a neutral place.

    She threatened to sue this newspaper or any other that publishes the story.

    The representative of the family that owns the land, Alhaji Laoye, denied colluding with Aragbaye.

    He said Mrs. Oladeji could not point to any member of the family as the person that sold the land to her.

     

  • Golden Eaglets land in Abuja

    Golden Eaglets land in Abuja

    Golden Eaglets would commence their practice sessions in earnest today at the NFF/FIFA Goal Project synthetic pitch ahead of their second leg-final round match against Mali this weekend.

    A team of 18 players and officials safely arrived in the Federal Capital Territory on Sunday evening aboard Arik Airlines from their Calabar camp base where they have won their three home matches including a 2-0 defeat of Junior Eagles of Mali.

    The second leg of their game against Mali would be played on a synthetic pitch hence the shift to Abuja for the team to perfect its strategy ahead of the trip to Bamako. The temperature on arrival in Abuja was 35°C which is similar to what was obtainable in Bamako at the same period and officials maintained the condition would suit their plans

    “ We thank God for granting us journey mercies from Calabar to Abuja and the players are really in high spirits looking forward to our first training session at the Goal Project on Monday ,” stated Suleiman Abubakar, the coordinator of the team. “Coming to Abuja is just the continuation of our preparations for the match in Bamako and it is strategic that the team play on a synthetic pitch before we travel to Mali.”

    The first leg of the final round match penultimate Sunday had ended 2-0 in favour of the Golden Eaglets at the U.J. Esuene Sports Stadium in Calabar. Nigeria is seeking a ticket to the 2003 African Under-17 Championship to be hosted in Morocco after missing the last two editions hosted by Algeria and Rwanda in 2009 and 2011 respectively.