FCT Minister, FCDA, Sued N1Bn Over Alleged Unlawful Revocation Of Green Lake Firm Property

 BY ANTHONY OCHELA, ABUJA
 
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) have been dragged before a High Court of the FCT over an alleged unlawful revocation of a property belonging to Abuja based Green Lake International Limited.
 
The Minister and the FCDA were sued alongside another Company, Lodigiani Nigeria Limited on the disputed ownership of the property located in the Maitama District of Abuja.
 
The property is identified as Plot 2786, Cadastral Zone AO6, Maitama, Abuja covered by  Certificate of Occupancy No. Ia60w-1566c-6723r-10220-20 dated 29th September 2006.
 
Plaintiff in the suit marked FCT/HC/ABJ/CV/416/2024 is claiming One Billion naira against the Minister and the two other defendants as compensation for alleged trespass on the property.
 
In the suit filed by one Lydia Anenga of the Reuben Atabo,SAN, law firm in Abuja, Green Lake Company applied for an order of the High Court setting aside the purported revocation of property carried out in 2006.
 
The Green Lake firm also prayed the court to nullify the Certificate of Occupancy
No. Ia60w-1566c-6723r-10220-20 dated 29th September 2006 issued by the Minister and FCDA to Lodigiani Nigeria Limited during the pendency of a suit on the property.
 
In its statement of claims, Green Lake firm averred that the property was initially allocated by the FCDA to Lodigiani on November 20, 1990 but was revoked by the same FCDA on October 22, 1997 due to failure of Lodigiani to develop the plot.
 
Plaintiff said that after revocation of the property from Lodigiani, it was in 1997 allocated to a Company, Aso Plaza by the Minister and FCDA with Certificate of Occupancy No. FCT/ABU/MISC/15, 255.
 
In 2006, Green Lake firm asserted that it acquired the interest of the Aso Plaza after which it applied for re-certification of the Certificate of Occupancy and was issued with a new one with number Ia60w-1566c-6723r-10220-20 dated 29th September 2006 upon which all statutory payments were made and receipts issued.
 
Green Lake firm claimed it enjoyed possession of the property until May 22, 2009 when the FCT Minister and FCDA via a document revoked the property and reverted the title to Lodigiani
 
Plaintiff therefore sought declaration by the court  that it is the lawful owner, occupier and user of the property and the right to expel trespassers from the property.
 
It also asked the court to declare that the purported revocation of the property by the Minister and FCDA is illegal, unlawful, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.
 
Plaintiff demanded that the Minister, FCDA and Lodigiani be ordered to pay it a sum of one billion naira as damages for the unlawful tresspass against it and for the unlawful revocation of its property during the pendency of its suit.
 
Meanwhile, hearing in the suit has been fixed for November 19 before Justice M. A Hassan.