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Ondo Govt Drags Developer Before Wike Over FCT Land

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The Ondo State Government has petitioned the Federal Capital Territory FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike over a plot of land originally allocated to it but now allegedly being developed by a private individual.

The state government in a letter dated September 08, 2023 through one of the counsels to its Development and Property Corporation, Ojen Obase Esq. of Effiong Bob & Associates had appealed to Wike to urgently retrieve its land from the Managing Director of Frank Woopet Engineering Limited, Frank Okoye.

It said it had requested for reversal of resolutions of FCT Land Use and Allocation Committee and restore the land to its rightful owner, Ondo State Development and Property Corporation.

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The letter with the title: “RE: Conveyance of Hon. Minister, FCT’s Approval of FCT Land Use & Allocation Committee’s Resolutions over Infractions of Frank Woopet Engineering Ltd on Plot No. 50 Wumba C10 District , Passionate Request for Reversal of Resolutions of FCT Land Use & Allocation Committee” which made reference to an earlier letter dated 22nd March 2023 noted among other things that, “Consequent upon their letter dated 22nd day of March, 2023, a meeting was convened by the Director of Development Control which meeting was attended to by the Director of Development Control, Frank Okoye of Frank Woopet Engineering Limited & the consultant, ALIADE Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd to our client on the 20th February 2023, wherein contending parties were asked to present title documents in which their client presented but Frank Woopet Engineering Ltd could not present documents of title, TDP/claims to having any title in or near plot 50 Wumba, C10 District.

“Despite his failure to prove his title, the said Frank Okoye has continued to develop on our client’s land even after the demolition carried out by the Department of Development Control, FCTA on the land on the 19th January, 2023 with the aim to take over the Land of Ondo State Government through members of the Land Use Allocation Committee.

“We, on behalf of our client, passionately appeal to Your Excellency to reverse the resolution of the FCT Land Use Allocation Committee and restore our client’s land to her”.

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While expressing hope that its plea will be granted by the Minister, the state government wished Wike well in his desire to reposition the FCT for good.

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However, Okoye on his part denounced the claims, saying while he was allocated Plot 20, the Ondo corporation was given Plot 50, both for “accelerated development”.

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He said he had since developed his plot and people had been living there for the past 12 years, and that the Administration had offered a compensatory plot to the corporation which it rejected.

Okoye said; “This is an old matter, since 2006. We have been to the Federal High Court twice and the court asked us to go for arbitration which we did twice.

“We were both given the plots of land for free by the FCTA to develop mass housing – accelerated development. I started in 2006 and in 2009, the then minister, Moddibo, reportedly withdrew my allocation. They never told me. They didn’t write it call me. The court asked them whether they did all these and they said no. Meanwhile, I was on site carrying out the assignment I signed up for – to develop 250 houses on a certain acreage. Of course, what I built was more than what I was given, quite alright. It was not a secret and our landlord, the FCDA, deliberated on it and said they liked my concept of not tampering with the natural habitat or turning it into a modern slum. The FCDA asked the Ondo corporation to allow me continue and that they will be given another plot.

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“But of late, the Permanent Secretary who comes from the same Ondo state and was chairman of the land use allocation committee that sat on the matter and recommended to the minister that Frank Woopet be allowed to continue development, a recommendation that was approved by the immediate-past minister has now turned around after some weeks to say another thing. So, is the Permanent Secretary now countering a ministerial approval?

“I do not really know what they want because we have developed the place and people have been living there for the past 12 years. The court asked them where they were all through the years and they said they were busy doing other things. So, is it now after 15 years that they want to start a project that was tagged “accelerated development”?

“I was given Plot 20. Theirs is Plot 50. Mine was approved two weeks before theirs. They are two different plots. The FCTA has offered to give them another allocation to cover for the parts they said I encroached on but the Ondo corporation is asking for double of an allocation that the FCTA gave them free”.
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Edo Poll: LP Group Urges INEC, Judiciary to Adhere To Rule Of Law, Electoral Act

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A pressure group within the Labour Party – Catalyst Committee – has tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Judiciary not to succumb to political pressure but show conformity to the rule of law and the electoral Act as amended in 2022.

The group made the call against the
background of the legal case instituted by Barr. Kenneth Imansuangbon against the candidacy of Olumide Akpata.

In a statement by the coordinator of the group, Dr. Abel Oarhe, the Catalyst Committee noted that the call became necessary as some “money bags” were out to ensure that justice was not served and thereby subverting the will of the people.

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In the statement made available to newsmen in Benin on Thursday, the group pointed out that it is only when justice is served on the matter that democracy can be deepened in the country.

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It warned that any attempt by the electoral body to shift the goalpost will create disruption in the nation’s political system, thereby eroding completely the confidence of INEC in the eyes of the people.

Imansuangbon had dragged the LP candidate to the Federal High Courts in Abuja and Benin seeking interpretation of the constitution as regards the emergence of Akpata as the party’s candidate.

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Imasuagbon had alleged that Akpata was not fit to have participated in the primary nor declared the party’s candidate as a result of issue bordering on provision of false information, dual citizenship amongs others.

He pointed out that the issues in question did not only breach the party and INEC guidelines, but also contravened the country’s constitution.

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The group pointed out, “INEC should know that Olumide Akpata is not the only one that is in the contest but there are other 16 gubernatorial aspirants in the contest.

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“Therefore, INEC and the judiciary cannot afford to be seen shifting the goal post in violation of the clear guideline and rule of law.

“The integrity of INEC and Judiciary is at stake not just the issue of Olumide but issue of democracy and rule of law in Edo State because the other 16 political parties will not fold their arms because someone is boasting to shift the goal post.

“It is sacrosanct to note that obedience to the rule of law is part of the requirement to contest an election.

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“ It must be emphasize that inability to obey the law is a clear ground for disqualification. So nobody should pamper any candidate who has deliberately violated the provision of the electoral laws or INEC guideline.

“Whoever disobeys the law the consequences are there and it should be applied and that is why Kenneth Imansuangbon has gone to court to rescue the party.

“INEC must be very careful that Nigerians are not too happy but should always seize the opportunity to redeem their image when such opportunity comes up by ensuring that the law is strictly followed.

“The Judiciary and INEC should know that the people are watching and it is not about Olumide of Labour party but the entire process.”

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Anambra: Three Ex-police Officers Bag Life Imprisonment For Murder

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An Anambra State High Court sitting in Onitsha has convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment three former Police officers for killing a 42-year-old man, identified as Chukwunonso Uchenwoke, from Mbosi in the Ihiala Local Government Area of the state.

The accused persons were said to have killed the man while effecting his arrest over an alleged assault and malicious damage.

The offences were said to have been committed on May 14, 2016, at No. 13 Ibe Street, East Niger Layout, Okpoko in Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state and the Onitsha Judicial Division.

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After the incident, the ex-police officers, whose names were given as Juliet Ekwueme, Ugochukwu Obiakor and Raphael Chike, were said to be dismissed from the Nigerian Police Force.

The court, presided over by Justice A.O. Okuma, on Wednesday, held that the prosecution counsel proved the case beyond reasonable doubt and found the accused persons guilty of conspiracy and murder charges preferred against them, which are contrary to Sections 495(a) and 274(I) of the Criminal Code Cap 36 Volume II, Revised Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria 1991, as amended.

The three of them were all convicted and sentenced to seven years of imprisonment for conspiracy and life imprisonment for manslaughter.

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Trulaw Chambers, through her principal counsel, C.J. Okeke, prosecuted the case with the fiat of the Anambra State Attorney General.

Reacting to the judgement, the prosecutor, Okeke, described it as yet another victory and a succinct reminder that justice is still tenable with the right legal representatives.

The counsel to the first defendant, G.A. Oluwatuase, said he would appeal the judgment for his client; the counsel to the second defendant, C.E. Ezenwa, and the counsel to the third defendant, C.J. Agbata, said they need a copy of the judgement to determine their next line of action.

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Three Killed In Abuja Community Clash

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Three persons, including two women and a young boy, have reportedly been killed in a clash between local scavengers, otherwise referred to as baban bola, and residents of the Byazhin community, in Kubwa, Bwari Area Council of the FCT.

An eyewitness, who identified herself as Jessica Adam, told our correspondent that a baban bola attempted to steal a woman’s pot of soup, but was overpowered and beaten up after the woman alerted neighbours and passers-by.

The embittered baban bola then went away and mobilised hoodlums who returned at about 8pm wielding weapons including machetes, clubs, and stones and began attacking residents at random, eventually killing the woman whose pot of soup was earlier stolen.

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In the attack, two others, a woman and a young boy, reported to be passers-by who unfortunately ran into the middle of the crisis, were also killed, they were, however, yet to be identified.

“They killed two people yesterday. The community has been in chaos since yesterday. The crisis continued till this morning when they killed somebody again. So far, three persons have been killed and many injured. The Police intervened and restored normalcy, but no arrest was made. The Police have intensified their patrol in the Byazhin area of Kubwa to prevent them from regrouping,” Ms Adams narrated.

A resident in the community, who spoke with The PUNCH on condition of anonymity, also confirmed the death of the three persons but said he had no clue as to what may have started the clash.

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“Yes, the riot started yesterday. And by this morning, we learnt that three persons have been killed. It happened in Byazhin around that Millionaire’s Quarters, behind that Living Faith Church. That place is usually dangerous, because it is quite lonely, and you cannot pass through there alone, especially in the evening,” he said.

As of the time of filing this report, The PUNCH gathered that schools and shops in the area have been closed down, as parents scampered to pick up kids from their classrooms, and shops refused to open as of Wednesday morning.

Meanwhile, efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer of the FCT Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh, proved abortive, as her number was repeatedly unreachable.

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