Businessman, FCTA bicker over property acquisition

The planned acquisition of Abuja property by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has resulted to bickering between the owner of the property and the FCT Director of Parks and Garden, Ali Ukele, an architect.

Already, the owner and Manager, Big H Gardens and Recreation Park, Mr. Sunday Ojabuno has vowed not to trade off his N28 million plot he bought from the Federal Capital territory [FCT] authorities for whatever reasons.
Ojabuno also warned the Director of Parks and Garden to stop every move to illegally acquire the plot which house his garden at Utako, district of Abuja.

He also called on the FCT Minister, Malam Mohammed Musa Bello to intervene by calling  Ali Ukele to order not to use his powers to illegally claim the plot officially approved for garden purposes for another persons, or group of persons.

He said, ‘’This plot was  acquired in 2007 after we paid N28 million and since then, we have been using it for garden purposes  in line with the territory’s requirements but to our surprise, officials from the Director of Parks and garden just came here with a memo banning our operations and claiming that the land has been officially allocated for an NGO that  has a Ministerial approval.’’

“ “The FCT Director of Parks and Garden, Ali Ukele even advised that we should accept to take a N7 million compensation while promising to give us another land but we have asked him to  show us the  ministerial approvals for the Jumai properties as claimed but to no avail.’’

He also told journalists that the FCT officials also came to demolish a  local structure that is been used for skills acquisition training stressing.

Reacting to the allegations, the FCT Director of Parks and Gardens told The Guardian that the claims by Mr. Sunday Ojabuno are not totally correct.

‘’Actually, we discovered that this very plot has been approved for Jumai’ Estate  Nigeria LTD by the Minister and we decide to  arrange another plot for Mr. Sunday but they refused, he also refused to accept N7 million offer from  Jumai estate Nigeria LTD, claiming that he bought the plot for a whooping N28 million, we are still trying to find another place for him,’’ he said.