PATIENCE VS TURAI: COURT FIXES APRIL 23 FOR FINAL SETTLEMENT

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Monday fixed April 23 for the final report of out of court settlement between the First Lady, Patience Jonathan, and Turai Yar’ Adua, wife of late President Umaru Yar’Adua over a disputed 1.84 hectares of land in Abuja.

The new date was given after lawyers to both parties met for almost one hour in the Judge’s chamber, discussing the way forward, following the total breakdown of out of court negotiated settlement.

The disputed land, Plot No. 1347 Cadastral Zone AOO, Central Business District, Abuja, FCT, was initially allocated to Women and Youth Empowerment Foundation (WAYEF), while Mrs. Yar’Adua was First Lady.

FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed, revoked the allocation due to what he described as “overriding public interest”, and reallocated the same land to Mrs. Jonathan for the building of African First Lady Peace Mission Headquarters on November 2, 2011.

Mrs. Yar’Adua complained that the land allocated to WAYEF on February 19, 2010 was being trespassed upon by Mrs. Jonathan, and got a court order dated March 5, 2012, restraining the defendants from affecting WAYEF’s title and interest over the land.

Those joined as co-defendants in the suit are FCT Minister, Federal Capital Administration and Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS).

WAYEF, through its lawyer, Lagi Innocent, is asking for N1 billion as general damages, N100 million as exemplary damage, N100 million as aggravated damages, in addition to N261 million already paid for Certificate of Occupancy, as well as N454 million paid for building designs.

As part of moves to get a negotiated settlement, FCTA has offered WAYEF Plot. 1838 Cadastral Zone AOO, Abuja, measuring 6119.29 square metres, as replacement plot.

While another Plot 1839 was also proposed to be in favour of the African First Lady Mission, measuring 6100.51 square metres.

The said Plot Nos 1838 and 1839, are subdivided from Plot 700 CBD Cadastral Zone AOO, Abuja.

He mentioned that WAYEF had begun the process of notice of committal to prison on the defendants by filing Forms 48 and 49, adding that it was unfortunate that people could no longer trust the government.

While adjourning the case to September 24, 2012 for report of settlement, Justice Affen “advised parties that the nature of the case is such that if parties can reach amicable settlement, it would be better for all sides.”

Source: Daily Independent