By Kayode Olowu (FCT Abuja Correspondent)
Officers of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Abuja have arrested two staff of the Development Control, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) involved in the illegal demolition of buildings at Palm Residence Estate, Lugbe, Abuja, belonging to Shimex International Trading Company Limited on 7th July, 2022.
They are Hassan Ogbole and Bajja while Osita, Mrs. Thaibat and Illiya involved in the illegal demolition are yet to be apprehended.
Their arrest followed a warrant of arrest issued by the Upper Area Court, Bwari, Abuja in case No. CR/152/2022, between Shimex International Trading Company Limited, Mr. Mubarak Ahmad Tijjani and Osita, Hassan Ogbole, Bajja, Mrs. Thaibat, Illiya and persons unknown in the flagrant violation of sections 348, 397 and 327 of the Penal Code Law.
Registrar of the Court, Aliyu Shehu conveyed the case and warrant of arrest to the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Area 10, Garki, Abuja, for thorough and discreet investigation and forward the report of the investigation to the Court when completed.
“I have the mandate of the Honourable Judge of this Court to write and refer the above-named case to your office for a thorough and discreet investigation.”
“That the report of your investigation should reach this Honourable Court as soon as investigation is completed”, the registrar stated.”
Counsel to Shimex International Trading Company Limited and Tijjani, E.S. Marcus Esq.
in a Motion No.59/22 dated 8th July 2022, brought pursuant to section 89 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the Court to cause a direct criminal complaint to be issued against the defendants on the following terms:
“That you Osita (male), Hassan Ogbole (male), Bajja (male), Thaibat (female), Illiya (male) and persons unknown on or before 7th day of July, 2022 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court trespassed into the land with Plot No. 73 Lugbe East District, Cadastral Zone E29, measuring 47.3 hectares situate at Lugbe FCT, Abuja belonging to the complainants knowing this to be a criminal offence. You hereby committed an offence punishable under section 348 of the Penal Code Law.”
“That you Osita (male), Hassan Ogbole (male), Bajja (male), Thaibat (female), Illiya (male) and persons unknown on or before 7th day of July, 2022 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court intimidated and threatened to deal with the complainants knowing this to be a criminal offence. You thereby committed an offence punishable under section 397 of the Penal Code Law.”
“That you Osita (male), Hassan Ogbole (male), Bajja (male), Thaibat (female), Illiya (male) and persons unknown on or before 7th day of July, 2022 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court destroyed the complainant’s building on the land with Plot No. 73 Lugbe East District, Cadastral Zone E29, measuring 47.3 hectares situate at Lugbe FCT, Abuja knowing this to be a criminal offence. You thereby committed an offence punishable under section 327 of the Penal Code Law.”
Lamenting his ordeal in the hands of the accused, Mubarak Tijjani said,
"On Thursday 7th July 2022, about 12 noon some officials of FCT Development Control acting on their own accord, illegally demolished my Company's Palm Residence Estate Lugbe, which include houses, offices, street lights, equipment, thousands of blocks and building materials for ongoing construction in the Estate worth hundreds of millions of naira.”
"The demolition was carried out without the authority of the FCT management which duly approved and allocated the land as well as approved the building plans.”
"My Company will go to any length to seek justice within the law of the land and put to a stop to these malicious acts by officials of the Development Control that have been going on for decades in FCT. It is mischievous and counterproductive to destroy multimillion naira investments and property duly approved by relevant authorities without recourse to the leadership of the FCT that approved the land and buildings, thus undermining their authority." NNL.
