The Nation Newspaper

Tag: property

  • Ex-police officer seeks justice over property

    Ex-police officer seeks justice over property

    A former police officer, Lugard Akpokwaye, has urged the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar to intervene so that his stolen property which he said is in custody of the police is returned to him.

    He also urged the police chief to reinstate him after he fell victim to conspiracy by the rank and file in his former station at Ondo State.

    Akpokwaye, who was enlisted in the police on August 1, 1991 with force no. 176969, said in a petition to the IG that his problems began when he was transferred to Ode-Etikan station in Ilaje-Seaside, Ondo.

    Soon after, he was transferred again to Igbokoda along with the rank and file at his former station. According to him, on April 11, 1997, two officers who were posted to Ode-Etikan to replace him and others allegedly conspired with two sons of his landlord, broke into his house at Ode-Etikan and stole all his property.

    After investigation, the culprits were discovered, but till date the culprits have not been brought to book nor have his property recovered during investigation been returned to him.

    Akpokwaye said he petitioned former IGPs Musuliu Smith, Tafa Balogun and Sunday Ehindero, but nothing was done. He has also sent several reminders, he said.

    “Up till now, my property is still being held and they are sitting on the case. I plead with the IG to use his good offices, in the interest of justice, to ensure that my stolen property recovered during investigation be returned to me. “

    Akpokwaye added that he had also sent two separate applications for reinstatement, urging Abubakar to recall him as he discharged his duties diligently before been forced out of the force.

    Effort to reach to reach police spokesman Frank Mba for his reaction to the petition was unsuccessful as his phone was switched off.

  • Court orders agent’s property sold

    Justice Peter Obiora of an Onitsha High Court in Anambra State has ordered the sale of the propetry of a clearing agent, Paschal Nwabufo.

    This followed a Supreme Court judgment, which awarded N26.7million to an Onitsha importer, Gabriel Nwolisah, after Nwabufo failed to clear his goods at the Port Harcourt Wharf between 1984 and 1986.

    An Onitsha Deputy Sheriff has fixed November 7 for the sale by public auction of the landed property belonging to Nwabufo. The proceeds would be used to settle the debt he owed Nwolisah.

    Granting a motion to that effect, after hearing from Nwolisah’s counsel Obi Ulasi (SAN), Justice Peter Obiora ordered that Nwabufo’s property at No. 114 Cameroon Road, Aba, Abia State and his family house and land at Amezi village, Awkuzu in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State be sold and the proceeds be used to pay the judgment sum.

    The Supreme Court had, on June 24, last year, set aside some parts of the judgments of both an Onitsha High Court and the Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu, which refused to grant the prayers of Nwolisah to compel Nwabufo to pay him the money owed him, including $172,200, which he spent on 20-feet container bearing 730 cartons of Neoprene Glue Mastic 66 in August 1983.

    Nwolisah, trading under the name of G. B. VITTALIS CO. (NIG.), said as soon as the imported goods arrived Port Harcourt Wharf in July 1984, he engaged the services of Nwabufo, a clearing agent, operating under the name of Paskodi Maritime Agencies, to procure import licence, clear the goods and deliver it to him, but Nwabufo could not do so.

    In 1986, the Nigeria Ports Authority allegedly sold the goods as overtime cargo.

    He, therefore, demanded from Nwabufo, N57,000 as special damages being money he paid to Nwabufo for the clearing contract which failed, $172,200 as the cost of the imported goods and a 25 per cent interest from April 1986 till the judgment date.

    Justice O. O. Adekeye of the Supreme Court further held that Nwolisah’s prayers were in order and therefore ordered that Nwabufo should refund him all the above mentioned funds.

    In addition, the Supreme Court also ordered Nwabufo to pay Nwolisah extra N50,000 as interest from 1986 till the date of the judgment.