Vintage Press Limited, publishers of the The Nation, has raised the alarm over threat to the lives of its workers and illegal occupation of its landed property in Abuja.
The property, measuring approximately 7,363.81 square meters is on Plot 485, Cadastral Zone 07-07, Sabon Lugbe East Layout, in the Federal Capital Territory FCT.
In separate petitions to Inspector-General (IG) Kayode Egbetokun and Department of State Services (DSS) Director-General (DG) Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, the company accused land grabbers of forcibly encroaching into the property, using violence and intimidation to claim ownership.
Attached to the petitions were relevant documents backing the company’s claim to the ownership of the land.
In the petitions, signed by the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief (MD/E-i-C), Mr. Victor Ifijeh, the company laced its legal ownership of the land with a Deed of Assignment it executed with Platinum Ventures Ltd.
Ifijeh said the company has been in peaceful possession of the land for over 18 years until the recent invasion by those he described as land grabbers.
He expressed concern that the trespassers, who chased away members of staff and threatened to kill them if they returned, boasted of having connections with every law enforcement agency in Abuja.
The MD said such was unheard of and unacceptable in a country regulated by the rule of law.
Ifijeh urged the IG and the DSS DG to use their good offices to arrest and investigate the criminal land grabbing cartel and their cohorts.
He also urged them to investigate the criminal activities of land marauders and their cohorts in the FCT Administration, with a view to ascertaining the origin of the forged documents, letters of allocation and payment receipts purportedly used for payment of the land being claimed.
Ifijeh also urged security agencies to give the company enhanced security cover “due to the nature of our business, as we are unsure of the exact motives of the criminal cartel”.
The petition reads: “Our company (Vintage Press Ltd) is the beneficial owner of the landed property measuring approximately 7,363.81 Square Meters situate at Plot 485 Cadastral Zone 07-07, Sabon Lugbe East Layout Abuja by virtue of Deed of Assignment duly executed between Platinum Ventures Ltd and Vintage Press Ltd and our company has been in peaceful possession of the land for over 18 YEARS until recent times when the land was invaded by land grabbers.
“Dekor Ventures was the original allottee of the land measuring approximately 7,363.81 square meters, situated on Plot 485, Cadastral Zone 07-07, Sabon Lugbe East Layout Abuja by virtue of the “offer of terms of grant/conveyance of approval” dated 11/3/1998 with Ref. No: MFCT/ZA/AMA/SLE 485 by the Abuja Municipal Area Council.
“The land was subsequently re-allotted to Platinum Ventures Ltd by the Ministry for Federal Capital Territory Land Planning and Survey, AMAC Zonal Planning Office by virtue of ‘offer of terms of grant/conveyance of approval’ dated 27/2/2003 and Certificate of Occupancy dated 19th February 2004 registered as 82/82/12 at the Land Administration Registry Office, Abuja Municipal Area Council, Garki.
“Our company, through its sister company, Canon Properties & Investment Ltd, by letter dated 12th July 2007, written to Messrs Ahmed Uwais & Co, which was duly acknowledged via letter dated 25th July 2007, concluded negotiation and acquisition of the land in question from Platinum Ventures Ltd.
“It is worthy to note that among the terms and conditions for the purchase of the land are the Processing of Recertification of Certificate of Occupancy issued in the name of Platinum Ventures Limited with ABUJA Geographic Information System (AGIS) and obtaining the Consent of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory to the Deed of Assignment executed between Vintage Press Ltd and Platinum Ventures Limited.
The above was made necessary by the then Minister of the FCT who formed AGIS.
“Our company did not only pay for processing of the Recertification of the Certificate of Occupancy but also paid Platinum Ventures Limited’s solicitor’s professional fees to that effect. Find attached is Abuja GIS dated 2013-03-11 as payment for the revalidation fee made by our company.
“Attached herein is the Application for Revalidation of Area Council Title Organisation Form filled by our company in respect to the land in question.
“We also attach a letter dated 25th July 2007 by Ahmed Uwais and Co-written on behalf of the company where it was stated that the vendor had fixed a date to execute the deed of Assignment in our clients favour.
“The company had at all times through its Solicitors (Adeleke Adeyemo and Co and Ahmed Uwais and Co) engaged in a legitimate purchase of the property with the real owners who put it in possession and have been in peaceful undisturbed possession for over 18 years.
“Also find attached letter dated 24th October 2014 written by Messrs Ahmed Uwais and Co acknowledging fee paid by our company so far in respect of the processing of Recertification and his processing fee.
“Furthermore, in April 2024, Statutory Right Of Occupancy Bill in the sum of N14,837,916.00 (Fourteen million, eight hundred and thirty seven thousand, nine hundred and sixteen naira) was raised by the Federal Capital Territory Administration Department of Land Administration in the name of Platinum Ventures Ltd for issuance of Statutory Right of Occupancy. New Number: MISC 95638, Old Number: MISC 3392 DATED 24/04/2024.
“Our company had since paid the bill. Attached herewith is the payment receipt.
“However, to our greatest surprise, land grabbers forcefully entered into the land (the portion fenced round and being used for farm by some of our staff) sometime in March, armed with weapons and ammunition, chased out the security guards manning the land and threatened to kill or maim anybody that comes back to the land.
“They boasted of having “close connection” with every law enforcement agency in Abuja and that there is nothing anybody can do to them. This is appalling and unheard of in the city of power and a country regulated by law.” (THE NATION)
