A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court Sitting in
Bwari Area Council has ordered Turai Yar’Adua, wife of former President
Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and the current First lady of Nigeria, Dame Patience
Jonathan to report back to the court, the result of their out of court
settlement on a disputed land –plot no. 1347 Cadastral Zone AOO, Central
Business District, Abuja, FCT measuring 1.84 hectares.
The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister Of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, had informed the presiding judge of the court, Justice Peter Affen, that the federal government has made arrangement for an out of court settlement.
The disputed land was initially allocated to the Women and Youth Empowerment Foundation (WAYEF) while Mrs Yar’adua was first lady.
The Minister of the FCT, Bala Mohammed revoked the allocation for what he described as “overriding public interest” and reallocated the same land to Mrs Jonathan for the building of the African First Lady Peace Mission headquarters on the 2nd of November, 2011.
Mrs Yar’Adua complained that the land allocated to WAYEF on 19 February 2010 was being trespassed upon by Mrs Jonathan and got a court order dated 5 March 2012 restraining the defendants from affecting WAYEF title and interest over the land.
Those joined as co-defendants in the suit are the minister of FCT, Federal Capital Administration and the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS).
Reacting to the plea for an out of court settlement, Lagi Innocent, counsel to WAYEF confirmed to the court that his clients have been approached for settlement out of court but added that this was not the first time the defendants were making such moves.
“The proposal were never made known to us, but we have been communicated,” Mr Innocent said.
He mentioned that WAYEF had already began 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 in the country.
While adjourning the case to the 24 September 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.”
The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister Of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, had informed the presiding judge of the court, Justice Peter Affen, that the federal government has made arrangement for an out of court settlement.
The disputed land was initially allocated to the Women and Youth Empowerment Foundation (WAYEF) while Mrs Yar’adua was first lady.
The Minister of the FCT, Bala Mohammed revoked the allocation for what he described as “overriding public interest” and reallocated the same land to Mrs Jonathan for the building of the African First Lady Peace Mission headquarters on the 2nd of November, 2011.
Mrs Yar’Adua complained that the land allocated to WAYEF on 19 February 2010 was being trespassed upon by Mrs Jonathan and got a court order dated 5 March 2012 restraining the defendants from affecting WAYEF title and interest over the land.
Those joined as co-defendants in the suit are the minister of FCT, Federal Capital Administration and the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS).
Reacting to the plea for an out of court settlement, Lagi Innocent, counsel to WAYEF confirmed to the court that his clients have been approached for settlement out of court but added that this was not the first time the defendants were making such moves.
“The proposal were never made known to us, but we have been communicated,” Mr Innocent said.
He mentioned that WAYEF had already began 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 in the country.
While adjourning the case to the 24 September 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.”
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