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Estate Developer Seeks Tinubu’s Intervention Over Illegal Demolition of Properties in FCT
Estate Developer Seeks Tinubu’s Intervention Over Illegal Demolition of Properties in FCT
By: Michael Mike
An appeal has gone to President Bola Tinubu to wade into the destruction of some properties in Abuja.
One of the foremost real estate developers in the city, Engineer Success Obioma, the CEO of three companies, Praco International Ltd, Psalm 127 Ltd, and Peace Be Still Ltd, in an appeal over the weekend, called for immediate intervention of President Bola Tinubu over the demolition of his multibillion naira property in Abuja
Obioma said the properties were developed in his quest to meet the housing need of the masses in the FCT, noting that he acquired, developed and managed properties for his numerous clients in FCT including high profiled Nigerians and politicians.
The real estate developer who alleged an unwarranted persecution by the perceived detractors, said the authority was misled to demolish some of his properties by seizing all his documents and titles, and getting property worth billions of naira destroyed.
The engineer, who narrated his ordeal and how his aspiration was frustrated and truncated to journalists in Abuja, said he had lost over N10 billion to demolition by Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA).
Obioma said he was incarcerated for over two years in the struggle to get justice over illegal demolition of his properties and that of his clients.
He equally lamented how authority of FCTA humiliated and frustrated him for over 20 years by seizing of title documents with destruction of multibillion naira property and even incarcerated him for more than two years and yet no hope in sight for a relief from unwarranted persecution by the authority.
Obioma, who said he had secured reliefs through court judgment over the release of his title documents, said the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike should know that the restoration of his title documents followed due process and he should release the remaining seized documents or restore them.
He said the committee set up by the FCTA as directed by the former president Olusegun Obasanjo cleared him of all allegations of possession of fake land documents as was being speculated.
He said that for the 20 years the matter lasted, no one could produce one victim of his alleged illegal land deals to could be brought out to testify.
He noted that the membership of the committee comprised of all department heads, directors and management staff of FCTA because they were looking for fake documents “as was being speculated by enemies of progress that I forge land documents to acquire lands. It gave me the opportunity to prove myself as an honest business man.
“For the 20 years the matter lasted, they could not produce one victim of my illegal land deals to testify.”
He urged the FCT minister to publish the committee report of 2002, publish the documents seized from him for the world to see how fake or originals they are.”
He also said: “The minister should also ask the members of that committee who are still in service to explain how I was screened, my activities screened, and documents verified and they could not identify that there were no ministerial approvals covering over 200 plots they linked to me.
“He should also study the Federal High Court judgment as a lawyer to see that there was no stone left unturned by EFCC and their collaborators to prove their informants wrong.
“H.E. Nyesom Wike should be made to know that the restoration of my title documents followed due process and he should release the remaining seized documents or restore them.”
Obioma said this was necessary because his life was being threatened by his clients who believed that he had sold their land.
He said: “Yes my life is being threatened by those whose properties have not been restored. Most of them have waited since 2003 till date they are now asking, having been acquitted by a court of competent jurisdiction what else is holding their documents? They have been alleging that I sold them.”
The developer who is presently away in London to complete the PhD programme he abandoned since 2003, said he was ready to suspend it to pave way for resolution of the issue
He said: “Yes am not in the country, but am ready to suspend what am doing here to come if my attention is needed by the minister as a solution to the confusion created by the demolition.”
He advised that: “The demolition gale should be checked so that investors would not lose interest in FCT.”
Estate Developer Seeks Tinubu’s Intervention Over Illegal Demolition of Properties in FCT
PAP Scholarship Scheme Vehicle For Better Future For Niger Delta- Otuaro
By: Michael Mike
The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro, has described the programme’s scholarship scheme as a major vehicle towards ensuring a better future for the Niger Delta.
He spoke at the opening ceremony for the fifth batch of the two-day “Leadership, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Mediation Training for PAP Stakeholders” organised by the Office in collaboration with the Alumni Association of the National Defence College (AANDEC) at the Nigerian Army War College, Abuja, on Thursday.
Otuaro, who declared the workshop open, said that the decision for the massive deployment of scholarship students to universities within and outside Nigeria is informed by the need to utilise formal education to build a sure future for the communities in the region.
According to him, his leadership’s focus on education is aimed at investing in the youths as a deliberate effort to equip them to be drivers of the planned prosperity, peace, stability and development of the Niger Delta in the years ahead.
He said, “We have seriously focused on education, and the scholarship programme is a proper vehicle for a better tomorrow for our region. So far, between 2024 and 2025, we have deployed over 9000 scholarship students to universities within and outside Nigeria; in-country deployment alone this year is 4500.
“These are deliberate efforts we are taking to prepare our region for tomorrow. We need to prepare the next generation for the challenges of peace, socio-economic growth, development, and security.
“If we don’t equip our youths today with education, tomorrow would not be assured. It is time to prepare for the rainy day, that is why we are deliberately investing in the education of our young ones.
“I believe that the scholarship beneficiaries will appreciate this opportunity that we are giving to them. For nearly two years, we have tried as much as possible to impact nearly all communities through the scholarship programme.”
Otuaro explained that the capacity-building workshop was organised to consolidate the PAP’s peacebuilding process in the Niger Delta in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
He told the participants that they have a great role to play in the task of deepening the peacebuilding process because they are stakeholders and leaders in their own right.
The PAP helmsman said the time had come for stakeholders to unite strongly and come together to resolve issues in the region without the involvement of outsiders.
He urged the participants to be role models for stability and peace ambassadors of President Tinubu in the Niger Delta.
He also stressed that peacebuilding should be their watchword going forward.
Otuaro expressed appreciation to Tinubu for his steadfast support for the PAP, saying that the president is pleased with the existing peace and stability in the Niger Delta.
He applauded the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for his encouragement and strategic supervision of the PAP.
He further extended gratitude the management of the Nigerian Army War College, resource persons, and the leadership and membership of the AANDEC for partnering with the PAP to deepen the peacebuilding process in the region.
PAP Scholarship Scheme Vehicle For Better Future For Niger Delta- Otuaro
Police arrest three kidnappers, recover 54 AK-47 ammunition in Kwara
By: Zagazola Makama
The Kwara State Police Command has arrested three suspected kidnappers and recovered 54 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition during a patrol operation in Bani area of the state.
Sources said the arrest was made at about 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday following intelligence-led patrol by local vigilantes.
According to sources, the Vigilante Commander in Bani, Taiye Abubakar, and his team were on patrol within the Bani axis when they sighted two men riding on a Bajaj motorcycle.
The suspects were identified as Gero Mahamadu of Komi Marshallashi via Bani and Lawale Falike of Sambo Ginda via Jebba.
The sources stated that while efforts were made to stop them, Lawale Falike initially fled the scene, but Gero Mahamadu was arrested. A search conducted on him led to the recovery of 54 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition.
The sources added that during interrogation, Gero Mahamadu confessed that the ammunition was supplied by one Alhaji Shahu Fire and one Ismail Mashamari, both of Sambo Ginda via Jebba, and was to be delivered to one Manu of Ilesha Baruba for a planned kidnapping operation.
Subsequently, Lawale Falike and Alhaji Shahu Fire were arrested, while the suspects reportedly made useful confessional statements.
The police said efforts were ongoing to arrest the remaining suspects, including Manu and Ismail Mashamari, and to recover any additional arms or ammunition connected to the planned crime.
Police arrest three kidnappers, recover 54 AK-47 ammunition in Kwara
Assistant Commissioner of Police dies during duty in Ebonyi
By: Zagazola Makama
A senior police officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ogbon-Inu Taiwo Popoola, has died while in service at the Ebonyi State Police Command.
Sources said the incident occurred at about 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday during a management meeting at the Commissioner of Police’s office in Abakaliki.
According to the sources, ACP Popoola, who was the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Intelligence Department (SID), suddenly developed breathing difficulty and began gasping for breath during the meeting.
He was immediately rushed to the Police Medical Centre at the Police Headquarters, Abakaliki, where he was promptly attended to by the command’s medical personnel.
Despite efforts to resuscitate him, the officer was confirmed dead by medical doctors.
The sources said preliminary medical findings indicated that the death was due to cardiac arrest, secondary to hypertensive heart disease.
The remains of the deceased have been deposited at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital (AE-FUTHA 1) mortuary in Abakaliki.
The police described the late ACP Popoola as a dedicated officer who served the Force with commitment and professionalism.
May his soul rest in peace
Assistant Commissioner of Police dies during duty in Ebonyi
PAP Scholarship Scheme Vehicle For Better Future For Niger Delta- Otuaro
Sterling Strengthens Media Capacity on Sustainability Reporting
Police arrest three kidnappers, recover 54 AK-47 ammunition in Kwara
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