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Tag: Property

  • Delta prioritises security of lives, property – SSG

    Delta prioritises security of lives, property – SSG

    Delta State Government, Friday, warned that it would not take for granted, any matter that could affect the security of lives and property in the state.

    The Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Dr Kingsley Emu, gave the warning, while addressing protesters from the Ubulu-Okiti community in Aniocha South Local Government Area at Government House, Asaba.

    The protesters, who were in their numbers, and carried placards with various inscriptions, were on a peaceful protest over the activities of land grabbers in their communities.

    Dr Emu commended the protesters for their peaceful disposition, assuring that the government would look into the matter comprehensively once the Commission of Enquiry’s report was presented.

    “We have listened to your complaints, and the governor, in his wisdom, through the State Security Council, has actually set up a Commission of Enquiry to look into most of these allegations that have been brewing with everything pointing towards the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku, HRM Ifechukwude Okonjo.

    “The security council has since invited him; thereafter, he was asked to stay away from all of these until the Commission of Enquiry concludes their assignment.

    “Luckily, they are almost concluding their assignment, and, in January by the special grace of God, they would have been through and the government will do the normal thing of going through the recommendations.

    “This legitimacy claims will be sorted out by the panel of inquiry headed by a serving judge of the state. The Committee is also made up of very reputable and responsible people who do not have any personal interest and will never have.

    “They are not people that can be bought over. So, I appeal to you to remain patient for another maximum two months and everything shall be over.

    “We note very strongly the use of the Police from Zone 5 to torment and harass you, as you have alleged; the Governor and the state will look into that.

    “Please, don’t take the law into your hand because, if you do, you won’t be helping us and yourselves; very soon, this matter shall be resolved, by the grace of God.

    “After the Commission submits its result, the government will look at it and take a stern position on this matter because any matter that can affect the security of this state cannot be taken for granted.

    “Times are hard enough for the people not to talk of adding another affliction on them: Governor Oborevwori is a Governor for all – the rich, the poor, the middle class, the common people and the royals; that’s who the Governor stands for.

    “Part of our MORE Agenda is enhanced peace and security; so, we cannot fold our hands and see this kind of thing happen; that is why we are particularly happy with the way you have come.”

    Earlier, the leader of the protesters and Youth President of Ubulu-Okiti community, Ifechukwude Nwabuebo, alleged that; “For over two years now, the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom, Obi Ifechukude Okonjo and his brother, Prince Onyema and the family of Okonjo has been in our community land, grading and selling our land.

    “If we protest, he will use thugs to chase us away from our land and our parents are no longer going to farm.

    “The latest one now is that he came to Ubulu-Okiti, Ubulu-Uku and Aniagbala around 1 am in the midnight, broke into our houses, beat up our wives and carried away our fathers to Zone 5 for the past seven days.

    “Since then till date, they have refused to grant them bail; so, we have come to the government to appeal to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to intervene to release our fathers.

    “We have been suffering for over two years and we are begging the government to intervene in this matter to tell the Okonjo family to leave Ubulu clan alone.

    “We are not under Ogwashi-Uku clan; we are on our own- Ubulu-Uku, Ubulu-Unor, Ubulu-Okiti and Aniagbala is not the same clan with Ogwashi-Uku and they are now trying to take us as slaves which we have refused, hence we are here, sir.”

  • How tenant’s fiancée burnt my house, property worth N47m – Landlord tells court

    How tenant’s fiancée burnt my house, property worth N47m – Landlord tells court

    A 59-year-old civil servant, Josiah Olowofeso, on Friday, told an Upper Area Court, Kubwa, how his tenant, James Otaru’s fiancée, identified as Kemi Kusimo burnt his house and other property worth N47 million.

    The police had charged Otaru and Kusimo with criminal conspiracy and mischief by fire, to which they, however, pleaded not guilty.

    Olowofeso made the allegation while being led in evidence by the Prosecution Counsel, Babajide Olanipekun.

    “While I was in church on Jan.15, I got a message that my house at Maryson Street, Byazhin, Kubwa, had been ablaze.

    “By the time I got to the house, I discovered that the roof was not there again, while some Nigerian Fire Service personnel had been there trying to put out the fire.

    “A photographer was invited and pictures of the scene were taken and printed.

    “Some of my tenants told me that there was a misunderstanding between the defendants and that Kusimo threatened to burn down the house but that they cautioned her against doing so, as they would all lose their property.

    “Before they knew what was happening, Kusimo had set the house ablaze and locked herself in,” he said.

    Olowofeso further stated that policemen from Byazhin Station later arrested Kusimo, while Otaru apologised to him, saying it was the work of the devil.

    The complainant said that the estimated loss of his property and those of the tenants was about N47million, saying that Kusimo said she only had N800,000.

    The Judge, Mohammed Wakili, however, adjourned the matter till Feb.15 for continuation of hearing.

    NAN

  • Cross River: Fire consumes N10bn property in 6 months

    Cross River: Fire consumes N10bn property in 6 months

    The Cross River Command of the Federal Fire Service on Friday said that property worth N10.38 billion were destroyed by fire in Cross River within six months.

    The State Controller of the Fire Service, Mrs Olomola Olumayowa, told NAN in Calabar, that the destruction was recorded in 13 incidents between January and June.

    Olumayowa said the command responded swiftly to the fire incidents, adding that three persons died and two others sustained injury within the period.

    The controller, however, stressed that the command’s committed in fighting fire outbreaks was being hampered by lack of fire equipment.

    According to her, provision of mini firefighting equipment (water tenders) to navigate difficult terrain will greatly help the service because not all routes were accessible by fire appliances.

    “We want provision of more fire stations in Calabar and its environs; as it stands now, we only have one fire engine in the state. These stations can be equipped with mini firefighting equipment.

    “We are also in need of a tanker to move along side with the fire engine to reduce the number of times we go for refilling after exhausting our water on fire grounds,’’ she said.

    Olumayowa appealed for more collaboration with security agencies in the state.

    “Security agencies should continue to come to our rescue; our men were almost mobbed at the last fire scene at Bogobiri,” she stated.

  • Attack on Mahmood Yakubu’s property false – INEC

    Attack on Mahmood Yakubu’s property false – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has debunked speculations in the social media that a property vandalised by some youths in a video clip, belonged to its Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu.

    Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja, said Yakubu had no such property anywhere in the world.

    He urged members of the public to disregard the claim.

    “The property being purportedly attacked by some youths in a video clip, circulating on the social media, does not belong to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

    “The INEC Chairman does not own the property in question in either Bauchi or anywhere else around the world.

    “This narrative is indeed the latest in the series of desperate smear campaign efforts by mischief makers. The public should disregard it,” Oyekanmi said.

  • NITEL/MTEL property sold to Lagos govt

    NITEL/MTEL property sold to Lagos govt

    The National Council on Privatisation (NCP), has approved the sale of a NITEL/MTEL Property located at number 3-5, Moloney street, Tafawa Balewa Square, Onikan, Lagos State.

    This is contained in a statement signed by Chidi Ibeh, Head of Public Communications, Bureau of Public Enterprises(BPE) in Abuja on Friday.

    Ibeh said the property was one of those listed for sale by the Liquidator of NITEL/MTEL Non-Core assets at the cost of N2.5 billion.

    “Meanwhile, the property is presently encumbered by the activities of illegal occupants and the Lagos State Government has promised a harmless takeover of the property.”

    He said the NCP chaired by the Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, granted the approval at its second meeting for 2023 held on Tuesday.

    It would be recalled that NITEL was incorporated in 1984 but formally commenced operations in 1985.

    NITEL was jointly owned by the Federal Government of Nigeria with 93.3 per cent share and First Bank of Nigeria Plc with 6.7 per cent.

    However, MTEL was established in 1996 out of NITEL to provide cellular services.

    It started a General System for Mobile communication (GSM) in March 2003 after NITEL transferred its GSM licence it acquired when the Nigerian Communication Commission first auctioned Digital Mobile Licences in February 2001.

    Ibeh said the NCP, at its meeting on Feb. 27, 2012, approved the privatisation of NITEL and MTEL through “guided liquidation”.

    He said under the guided liquidation strategy, all the core assets and business undertakings of NITEL and MTEL were to be sold as a single or multiple lots.

    NITEL and MTEL were to be sold to a qualified bidder by the Liquidator under the general guidance of the NCP.

    Ibeh said the strategy was adopted by the council after due consideration of other options, considering the previous failed attempts to privatise NITEL and MTEL through Strategic Core Investor Sale.

    The council also considered the failed attempt to privatise NITEL and MTEL through Negotiated Sale strategies and the huge liabilities to creditors to the tune of over N300 billion.”

  • Hoodlums invade Lagos school, chase away students, destroy property

    Hoodlums invade Lagos school, chase away students, destroy property

    Not fewer than 40 hoodlums invaded a private school, Shalom Group of Schools in Baruwa, Ipaja area of Lagos State and displaced students and teachers.

    The students and management of the school could not gain access into the premises as the main entrance gate had been blocked by the land grabbers, popularly referred to as ”Omo-Onile”.

    The proprietress of the school, Mrs Adedayo Odeka, told NAN on Monday that the hoodlums were allegedly led by an “Omo Onile” popularly known as Kaka.

    “He claimed that they had won a court judgement to take possession of our land.

    “I told him to show me the judgement, as I was not aware of any court case let alone judgment but he refused.

    Odeka said that the land was allocated to them by the Federal Government in 1992 and a school was built on it.

    “Coming out overnight and claiming the land is uncalled for.

    “This is a land we have been occupying for 30 years, students have been graduating year in year out.

    “The land is a Federal Government allocation, we don’t have any dealings with ‘Omo Onile’ we have all our documents,” she said.

    The proprietress said that the hoodlums came on Saturday and damaged fence and railings to gain access into the compound forcing boarding students to vacate.

    She claimed that the case was reported at Ipaja police station but that the police were incapacitated.

    “When the case was reported, the police
    reluctantly followed us to the site after much pressure but could not act as the hoodlums continued with the erection of the structure,” she said.

    She urged the government to arrest the perpetrators of this act and persecute them.

    The security guard, Mr Micheal Yakubu, alleged that over 40 hoodlums, who were led by the Kaka group invaded the school around 6:00a:m on Saturday.

    “They broke the wall, removed the two main gates to gain access, claiming that the land belonged to them.

    “They brought in sand, blocks and started digging and erecting structure on the school field.

    “After erecting the structure beyond nine coaches, they blocked the two entrances with blocks, put a small gate and locked it.” he said.

    A parent, Mr Osagie Igebo, said that it was disheartening for a group of people to traumatise young children and send them out of boarding school.

    “This is wrong for the society and the system, it is sad, look at the kids outside, these are our future generation that we are talking about.

    “We have to change this narrative, even if there is a dispute on the property, it should be resolved amicably,” he said.

    A teacher, Mrs Ifeoma Abah, said that the land grabbers, who stormed this school on Saturday chased the students out of the hostel.

    “They chased the students out without considering whether their parents were  close or far, some of them were half clad but the men didn’t care.

    “We came this morning only to be denied access into the school.

    “The pupils, students and teachers are stranded, we all have rights as Nigerians to learn,” she said.

    A boarder in the school , Miss Success Afolayan, a senior secondary two student, said she felt tortured and traumatised on Saturday when the hoodlums invaded their school.

    “I was traumatised, as we were running from pillar to post,  this action is uncalled for, in a learning environment.

    “This is going to affect our education, as we do not know when it will be resolved,” she said.

    Mrs Oluwatoyin Okafor, the principal, said that the miscreants destroyed some of the school properties and sent them out.

    “They destroyed the wall and iron rails and burgled the generator house.

    “We were not given audience, the security agents were standing by their side with guns threatening to shoot us if we talk.

    “We were left with no option than to call the parents of the boarders, who live in Lagos to pick them, while we pleaded with some teachers and parents to take those who live outside Lagos home with them.

    “Our students are preparing for WASCE, NECO and JAMB, they just came to disrupt the school activities,” she said.

    Another parent, Mr Ebenezer Akande, a civil servant, said that he was shocked when he saw that the two main gates were blocked.

    “As you can see, the children could not gain access into the school.

    “The Lagos State Government should wake up and do something concerning this land grabbers,” he said.

    The registrar of the school, Mr Akinola Adebayo, said that he got an invitation letter from Zone 2, Onikan, that someone wrote a petition against him.

    “When I got there on Thursday, they said that they had a petition against me, that I am using charms and cultists to chase Omo-onile away from their land.

    “I told them that I don’t know the petitioner, after I answered the petition, the police asked the two parties (the Omo-onile) and (Shalom school) to come back today Monday Jan. 30,?but I was surprised that the Omo-onile invaded the school on Saturday.

    “When we called the police, they said that there was nothing they could do,” he said.

    Adebayo urged the government to intervene in the matter so that the children can go back to school.

    NAN reports that some students were carrying cardboards with the inscriptions such as “Education is our right”, “say no to Omo-onile oppressors”, “the future is weeping”, “Kaka, why take our right from us”, “Omo-onile, why send us out of our school”, “Government come to our rescue, save us from land grabbers” and many more.

    The Police Public Relations Officers, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, who confirmed the story said that the case was not a criminal case.

    “The case is not a police case, it is a civil case.

    “I will urge the parties not to take laws into their own hands, so that a civil case will not turn to a criminal case,” he said.

  • Court fixes date to rule on Ekweremadu’s plea against his seized property

    Court fixes date to rule on Ekweremadu’s plea against his seized property

    A Federal High Court, Abuja has fixed Jan. 25 for ruling on Sen. Ike Ekweremadu’s application, seeking an order setting aside the Nov. 4 interim forfeiture order on 40 landed property linked to him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Justice Inyang Ekwo fixed the date on Thursday after Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, who appeared for Ekweremadu, and the EFCC’s lawyer, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, argued their case for and against the application.

    Justice Ekwo had, on Nov. 4, granted the anti-graft agency’s ex-parte motion, seeking an interim order of forfeiture of some property of Ekweremadu, who was former deputy debate president.

    The judge, who granted the motion, ordered the agency to publish the interim forfeiture order of the property in a national daily within seven days.

    The judge direct anybody who had interest in the forfeited property to indicate within 14 days of  the publication on why the property should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

    NAN reports that Ekweremadu’s eldest child, Lloyd; Anambra government and a company, Uni-medical Healthcare Limited had, on Dec. 5, appeared in court as parties interested in the seized property.

    Lloyd, in a motion on notice marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1242/2022 and filed by Chief Awomolo, prayed the court for an order setting aside the Interim forfeiture order on his father’s property and companies.

    Lloyd, in a four-ground argument, said that the facts In support of the the EFCC’s ex-parte originating motion “deliberately and fraudulently omitted very critical facts/evidence, which negate the granting of the application.”

    He argued that the motion which the anti-graft agency commenced the action was filed in absolute bad faith.

    According to him, the originating motion ex-parte was an abuse of judicial process, oppressive, intimidating and unfair to the parties interested in the property forfeited in the interim.

    He said, “the originating motion ex-parte was initiated with the expectation that Sen. Ike Ekweremadu and other persons interested in the property be denied of their right to fair hearing.”

    Also in its application, the Anambra government said one of the property listed in the interim order of forfeiture granted by the court belonged to the state.

    The state government, through its counsel, Chuks Igbinedion, told Justice Ekwo in the affidavit to show cause why the property should not be forfeited to the Federal Government that “the property listed as No. 1 in Schedule “A” in Page 2 of the interim order granted on 4th day of November, 2022, known as No 14/16, Charles Street, GRA Enugu” belonged to the state.

    The lawyer said the property neither belonged to Sen. Ekweremadu nor his wife, Beatrice, including Power Properties Ltd, their private company.

    Besides, Uni-medical Healthcare Limited, in its affidavit to show cause, urged the court to discharge the interim order made against “the property in No. 7 to Schedule “A” of the application.”

    The firm’s Regional Manager, Mr Onyebuchi Michael, averred that the company was the legal owner of the property at Plot 680 and 681, Independence Layout, Enugu in Enugu State “referred to as 23, Umunana Street, Independence Layout, Enugu State.”

    He said the company bought the property from Power Properties Nigeria Limited in the sum of N300 million in August 2021 and the perfection of the title was completed on March 24, who he said predated the EFCC’s application dated and filed on July 27.

    They all prayed the court to set aside the interim order and dismiss the EFCC’s application

  • Fire destroys N20m property, kills 15 persons in Kano

    Fire destroys N20m property, kills 15 persons in Kano

    The Kano State Fire Service says 15 persons were killed and property worth N20 million destroyed in various fire incidents in the state in October.

    This is contained in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the service, Alhaji Saminu Abdullahi on Thursday in Kano.

    Abdullahi said the service also saved 24 lives and property worth N43.3 million from 35 fire incidents during the period.

    He said that the service responded to 32 rescue calls and six false alarms from residents across the state during the period.

    The spokesperson urged the general public to handle fire with care to prevent fire outbreaks and cautioned motorists to abide by traffic laws to avoid road crashes in the state.

  • NDLEA speaks on selling of Ikoyi Lagos property

    NDLEA speaks on selling of Ikoyi Lagos property

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) says it did not sell its office in Ikoyi part of Lagos State.

    The agency dismissed an anonymous write up going round on WhatsApp platforms that a certain former NDLEA chairman, sold off its headquarters office buildings in Ikoyi.

    The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Babafemi described the write up as a total distortion of facts as it stated that the NDLEA left its officers and men stranded.

    According to him, the agency wishes to state that buildings referred to in the circulating piece, which did not belong to it in the first place, served as its national headquarters before its relocation to Abuja some years ago.

    “It should be noted that a Presidential Implementation Committee (PIC) on Federal Government Landed Properties took over the buildings following a government directive

    “The directives stated that all vacated or underutilised government property be taken over by the PIC, sold and proceeds paid to Federal Government coffers.

    “At the time of relocation, 70 per cent of the agency’s headquarters staff moved to Abuja while the remaining 30 per cent are still in Shaw road office, Ikoyi.

    “This remaining 30 per cent will soon join the main headquarters in Abuja as soon as the new HQ building, recently bought by the Federal Government for the agency is ready for occupation, ” he said.

    Babafemi said that like other Federal Government agencies whose property were taken over by the PIC, NDLEA had no hand in the sale of the mentioned property.

    He said the agency does not know who bought them and for how much, as the presidential committee solely handled the sale.

    “The challenge before the agency at the moment is how to remove our officers and men who live within communities where they are exposed to dangers into secure barracks accommodation.

    “And this is a concern already being addressed by the Federal Government through budgetary provisions for the construction of such barracks across the country beginning from 2022.

    “Members of the public are therefore urged to disregard the anonymous write up, which is nothing but an embodiment of distortion and mischief,” he said.

  • Court orders interim forfeiture of 10 property of ex-Zamfara gov, Yari

    Court orders interim forfeiture of 10 property of ex-Zamfara gov, Yari

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, gave an interim order forfeiting 10 property of former Governor of Zamfara, Abdulaziz Yari, to the Federal Government.

    Justice Obiora Egwuatu gave the order following an ex-parte motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1342/2021 moved by counsel for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Osuobeni Akponimisingha.

    Justice Egwuatu held that after carefully reading through the ICPC’s motion, exhibits attached and other processes, he was inclined to grant the order.

    He said that the court was empowered to grant the application going by the relevant sections of the law and the money laundering act.
    According to the judge, granting the application will not deny any one fair hearing.

    Egwuatu, who granted the order directed that the order should be published in the Nation and Daily Trust Newspapers.

    The judge said the interim order granted would last for 60 days to enable the ICPC to conclude its investigation, following which the commission could apply for final forfeiture.

    He ruled that any interested party affected by the order should file an application to show cause within 14 days why the property should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

    He adjourned the matter until April 28 to hear the motion for final forfeiture.

    Earlier, Akponimisingha informed the court that he had an application dated Nov. 2, 2021 and filed same day.

    “It is seeking for an order of interim forfeiture of the property listed on the motion paper,” he said.

    He said the motion was brought pursuant to Section 17(1),(2),(3), and (4) of The advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006; Section 48(1),(2) and (3)(a) and (b) of the ICPC Act, among others.

    He said that he had filed a copy of the judgment of a sister court, presided over by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, delivered on Jan. 26, 2021, on the final forfeiture of some funds in Nigeria and foreign currencies linked to Yari as an exhibit before the court.

    He told the court that on May 27, 2019, two days to the former governor’s handing over power, about N350 million naira was paid from Zamfara government coffers to his personal account and that on May 28, 2019, Yari moved the money from his account to EFAB Properties account.

    The lawyer said on May 29, 2019, EFAB Properties issued a receipt to Yari to indicate that the former governor paid the money to acquire 10 units of four bedroom detached duplexes at EFAB Estate, Mbora and 15 units of three bedrooms at EFAB Estate, Lokogoma in Abuja.

    He said though the owner of EFAB Properties denied that Yari paid for the property, the receipt issued on May 29, 2019, for the part payment of the property was also attached as an exhibit before the court.

    Besides, Akponimisingha said that Yari also awarded a N4.8 billion contract to Syndicate and Commercial Company Ltd, a company also owned by EFAB Properties, on May 16, 2019, for the construction of some roads in Zamfara.

    He said the ex-governor also awarded another N5 billion contract to the same company.

    He said though the former governor filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit with an ex-parte application restraining ICPC from tampering with

    the property, a sister court, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo had discharged the restraining order.

    “We want him (Yari) to come and explain to court how he came about the property,” he said.

    NAN reports that other property affected by the order include Plot 3281, Maitama (AQ96), Abuja; Plot 1308, Maitama (A@S), Abuja and seven bedroom duplex at Nwora Close, Maitama, Abuja.

    It also include four bedroom duplex at Justice Fatai Williams, Asokoro, Abuja; two bedroom compound at Talata Marafa, Zamfara; seven bedroom duplex at Owena Close, Yederam, Maitama, Abuja; seven bedroom at No 14806, Bowie Firm Cort, Maryland, United States of America and FIRM CORT, MARYLAND, USA. 106 bedrooms at Kinkino Crescent, Kaduna.