From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Nigerian Army is set to reclaim land from the cousin of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Azibaola Robert, who owns Kakarta Civil Engineering Limited, in Abuja.
Already, the army has completed construction of a perimeter fence to secure the entire land which measures a total of 245.2 hectares.
It was gathered that while the army produced a March 15, 1991 Certificate of Occupancy, other parties, including Azibaola, reportedly produced land papers dated between 2010/2012, respectively.
Federal Capital Territory Minister, Mustapha Bello, was said to have visited the area with the Director in charge of Survey and Engineering Services, along other staff, to ascertain the army claims.
However, the land housing the Guards Brigade cemetery and Lungi Barracks was also allocated to Azibaola and earmarked as Maitama Extension District by former FCT minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, during Jonathan’s administration.
Azibaola’s company, which is providing engineering infrastructure for Maitama Extension District, is also reportedly using the land as construction site and office, to coordinate services for owners of plots in the district.
Military sources told Daily Sun, yesterday, that the Guards Brigade, alleged owners of the land, have officially written to Azibaola’s company, Kakarta Civil Engineering Limited, to remove its equipment and other property from the area.
Other sources told Daily Sun the letter was handed over to the company about two weeks ago and was acknowledged by a top management staff, who also serves as the company’s secretary.
In the said letter, the Brigade authorities invited the company over to its headquarters, to work out ways of moving out its equipment within a duration of time which the source refused to disclose.
It was also gathered that the Maitama Extension District, created by the former minister, was allocated to top officials in government, members of the National Assembly and other top personalities.
Reclamation of the land generated controversy from high quarters after army authorities deployed soldiers to the seal off the area and prevent people from having access into land.
The federal government reportedly waded into the matter after it directed Bello to ascertain true ownership of the land.
Commander, Guards Brigade, Brigadier-General Musa Yusuf, confirmed the brigade has written to Kakarta to vacate the land. “Letters have been served on Kakarta already. The land is part of the training area earmarked for the army, especially the Guards Brigade…
“We have our obstacle-crossing training in the area…”
which they illegally occupied.