FHA Did not Commit Contempt of Court; Authentic/Genuine Allottees of Festac Town
BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF.
The Authentic and Genuine Allottees of Festac Town has responded to the allegations published in some national dailies accusing the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) of violating a court order on land allocation in the area.
In a thirteen point rejoinder and statement issued by Chairman of the Authentic/ Genuine Allottees/ Owners of Plots of Land in Festac Town, phase 2 popularly called (6th avenue) , on Monday ,Mr Vitus Okpara on behalf of the owners said the area in question is not in any court contention, therefore the Federal Housing Authority FHA has not committed any contempt of court.
According to the Chairman, the FHA in its capacity as a government agency allocated this land to bonafide occupants and allottees 30 years ago, stating that Omonile (land grabbers) deceived people and sold the land to them without genuine process.
As a result , when the original owners came for development, the so called land grabbers (Omonile) deployed hoodlums to maim through attacks with dangerous weapon and attempt to recover their lands and develop them by original owners.
Having developed part of the land , the magnanimous leadership of Federal Housing Authority (FHA) under Hon Oladimeji Oyetunde Ojo and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu out of kindness only took over the undeveloped plots , leaving them with the developed ones.
The statement further said …
REJOINDER TO “FESTAC TOWN RESIDENTS PETITION IGP
OVER FHA’S VIOLATION OF COURT ORDER”
“We write in response to the publication in a National Daily, Vanguard
Newspaper, in respect of the above captioned, and state as follows:”
1.
“That the area in question is not under any Court contention, FHA has
committed contempt of no Court Order.”
2.
“That the FHA, in its capacity as a government agency allocated these
lands to allottees a long time, about 30 years ago.”
3.
“That some People misguidedly and stubbornly approached or were
deceived by Omonile (Land grabbers) to buy FHA’s lands which have
been allocated to people many years ago.”
4.
“That illegal occupiers, Omonile touts and hooligans attack and maim
authentic/genuine land owners when they attempt to go and take
their lands to develop them.”
5.
“That the illegal occupiers have built houses in most part of the land,
but FHA under the leadership of the new Managing Director, Hon.
Ojo and Kindness of Mr. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has decided
not to demolish any illegal building but return only undeveloped plots to the rightful owners.”
6.
“That the previous administration under the former FHA Managing
Director had pencil down all the illegal buildings for demolition. They
should be thankful to God.”
7.
“That the FHA has no choice than to do something and help allottees
recover their plots. They are duty bound because these plots were
acquired form FHA and the allocations paid for a long time ago with
the allottees’ hard-earned money.”
8.
” That most of the allottees paid for those allocations with their
retirement savings and these plots re the only things they have to
show for their many years of service to Nigeria.”
9.
“That a situation where money bags in connivance with land grabbers
or Omonile intimidate authentic allottees and forcefully take over
their plots of land and FHA keeps quiet about it is all these years is
so bad, inconceivable amd very unfair.”
10.
“That Allottees (Authentic Owners) have concluded that if the Federal
Housing Authority does not do something to help them recover their
plots, they would seek redress in Court against the FHA over it.”
11.
“The FHA has no option than to do the needful even as it does not
want to demolish illegal buildings, the undeveloped plots should be
recovered and given back to their rightful owners.”
12.
“That the spread of lies by illegal occupiers and their land grabbers
and collaborators through uninformed media outlets against the FHA
is very shameful and that the general public should please disregards
such misinformation and lies.”
13.
“That associating names of some private individuals who do not work
in or for FHA in this exercise and writing petition against them to the
IG of Police is completely out of place and very ridiculous. FHA is a
federal government agency and no private individual can direct such
an agency on what to do or what not to do.”
The above is the truth and the right information.
Thank you.
MR. VITUS OKWARA
(Chairman, Authentic/Genuine
Allotees/Owners of Plots of Land in
Festac Phase 2 Popularly Called 6th Avenue).
