Man drags FCT Minister, Perm Sec to court …Accuses Perm Sec of land grab

An Abuja based busi­ness man and Chair­man of Silver Proof Nigeria Ltd., Timothy Bag­wams has dragged the Min­ister of Federal Capital Ter­ritory, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, the FCT Perma­nent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye before an Appeal Court seeking to restrain them from further demoli­tion of his property.

Others joined in the suit no FCT/HC/CV/2020/16 were Abuja Metropolitan Management Council and Director of FCT Parks and Recreation.

The Court action followed the demolition of a garden fa­cility belonging to Bagwams situated on Plot 747 A00 at Central Area by officials of Department of Development Control on Wednesday No­vember 16, 2016.

Speaking with journalists, the business man alleged that the motive behind the de­molition was sinister, noting that it was aimed at taking the plot of land designated as District Recreational Park away from him.

He argued that the land was dully allocated to his company, Silver Proof Nige­ria Ltd by the Federal Capital Territory Administration in 2007 with all the appropriate documents with the sole pur­pose of developing a garden on the plot.

According to him, the FCT Administration had in the past written that to the the area is a sub-system of Green Area network in the detailed Central Area Urban Design prepared by Messrs. Kenzo Tange and Urtec in 1998.

He further revealed that a Deed of Lease of the Park between him and the FCTA was signed and sealed on July 16, 2007 adding that all the relevant fees requested of him by the law were paid in respect of the Deed.

Bagwams who is lament­ing the loss that resulted from the demolition exercise which was carried out in the presence of heavily armed Police men and soldiers said his investment has gone down the drain.