Land grabbing: Abuja community complains about developer harassment
The persistent intimidation by a developer attempting to seize a plot of land in the Committee on Resettlement and Development Layout in Lugbe, Federal Capital Territory, has angered locals and property owners.
At a news conference held in Abuja recently, community members expressed their anguish and said that Paul Odili, an estate developer, had been intimidating and frightening them by sending thugs to damage property.
Mustapha Wasiu, the chairman of the CRD Residents Association, told reporters that the developer, who owns River Park Estate, has been attempting to seize community land for a number of years.
The chairman said that the developer had hired goons to wreak havoc and disturb the tranquility in the neighborhood, even after reporting the problem to the divisional police station and winning a court injunction.
He continued by saying that the developer has thwarted all attempts at a peaceful resolution of the problem.
“We have reported this to the Lugbe police station,” Mustapha declared. When we first observed these thugs in action, we reported it and had our remarks recorded.
When things reached a certain point, he sent in goons who broke into our property both during the day and at night. They arbitrarily entered the neighborhood and prevented anyone from constructing because they knew that if they did, the developer would destroy them.
“We had to write the police an official letter to preserve our souls. This is the capital city of Nigeria, home to the NSA, the head of army staff, the chief of naval staff, the defense minister, and the inspector general of police. Now, a person is abusing his power by sending thugs to harass a population that values peace.
“So many homes have been torn down. We are discussing property that was already damaged worth between N150 and N200 million.
Additionally, he asked Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, to step in and formally end the dispute by calling the developer to account.
Raphael Igu, a different community member, claimed that the developer had persisted in intimidating and harassing the locals by destroying houses with excavators.
According to Igu, a judge of the customary court grade A in the Gwagwalada local council of Abuja, from the layout’s construction in 1996, the community’s people have lived in harmony.
He stated that in 2007 Odili made a claim that the Federal Government had given him 474 hectares of the community’s land, upsetting the calm mood.
And we haven’t had any tranquility or mental relaxation since then. He comes here to terrorize us with criminals and goons,” he remarked.
He mentioned that several locals had sued Odili in 2011 and had won a favorable ruling against the developer.
“The court completely disregarded all of his claims that we are undocumented residents. He filed a case with the Court of Appeal, which dismissed it, he added.
He persisted in his harassment of us in spite of the rulings. He has visited the Supreme Court as well.
He organized thugs and criminals to infiltrate our community last week. Even while the case was in court, he began tearing down our fences and houses.
“Almost 25% of our home has been taken over by him using force.”
Ifeoma Amos, another resident, claimed that the developer’s representatives had taken down her property’s gate, fence, and roofing.
“Everything was taken out, and a lot of sand was applied. You would never tell that construction had previously taken place there. Amos recalled, “The men said that Paul was the one who requested that they destroy our structures.
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He persisted in his harassment of us in spite of the rulings. He has visited the Supreme Court as well.
He organized thugs and criminals to infiltrate our community last week. Even while the case was in court, he began tearing down our fences and houses.
“Almost 25% of our home has been taken over by him using force.”
Ifeoma Amos, another resident, claimed that the developer’s representatives had taken down her property’s gate, fence, and roofing.
“Everything was taken out, and a lot of sand was applied. You would never tell that construction had previously taken place there. Amos recalled, “The men said that Paul was the one who requested that they destroy our structures.
“Since I am not the command’s PPRO, you should address such problems with them. He quickly ended the call, saying, “They are the ones allowed to speak to the press.”
Additionally, Uhegbu Ugochukwu, the Divisional Police Officer for Lugbe, declined to comment on the measures taken in response to the allegations from the locals.
“Please, I cannot speak at this time; I am in front of the Commissioner of Police and cannot answer,” he stated.
In addition, he ignored a request for a follow-up call.
Tersoo Tile, the Divisional Police Officer for the River Park neighborhood, informed our reporter that he was unable to comment on the situation and asked them to contact the public relations officer in his place.
“Since I am not the command’s PPRO, you should address such problems with them. He quickly ended the call, saying, “They are the ones allowed to speak to the press.”
