Homeowners in Dr. Sam Nujoma Estate, Galadimawa, are seeking the intervention of FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, over allegations of threats, assault and extortion by developer, El Salem Nigeria Limited.
The appeal was made through the Chairman of the Residents Association, Ifeanyi Echefu, in a complaint submitted to the Legal Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration.
In the petition, the residents maintained that they legitimately purchased their plots, built their homes and are not tenants.
Echefu alleged that officials of El Salem Nigeria Limited have refused to hand over the management of the estate despite allegedly having no more land to sell, while continuing to instigate private security guards to threaten and assault homeowners.
The Residents Association chairman said the estate, located on Plot 21, Cadastral Zone C17, Industrial Area II, was originally allocated to the African University of Science and Technology in 2007.
According to him, the university later entered into a sublease agreement with El Salem Nigeria Limited, which subsequently named the estate after former Namibian President, Dr. Sam Nujoma.
He further alleged that the developer brought in eight other developers without the approval of the FCTA.
Echefu also claimed that the land was designated in the FCTA development plan for students’ hostel accommodation and not for other purposes.
He urged the minister to intervene in the matter and help put measures in place that would enable homeowners obtain their Rights of Occupancy and Certificates of Occupancy.
The dispute has also attracted the attention of the FCTA Legal Department.
In a response to the Criminal Investigation Department, CID, of the Nigeria Police Force, the Director of Investigation and Prosecution in the FCTA Legal Department, Joseph Eriki, reportedly advised the police to arrest officials of El Salem Nigeria Limited and anyone claiming approval for purposes other than education.
Eriki also accused the African University of Science and Technology of unilaterally changing the land use without government consent.
Reacting to the dispute, the Country Director of the African University of Science and Technology, Mr. Adekoya Seyi, said efforts were being made to resolve the matter.
“We are not unaware of the issues. Discussions are ongoing and will soon be resolved. However, I am not going to yield to the demands of the FCTA Legal Department Director,” Seyi said.
Efforts to obtain the reaction of the Executive Director of El Salem Nigeria Limited, Michael Onyebuchi, were unsuccessful as calls placed to his telephone line were not answered or returned as of the time of filing this report.
