First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan

By Adebiyi Adedapo

There were indications Wednesday that amicable settlement of land dispute between First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan and her immediate predecessor, Hajia Turai Yar’Adua may have collapsed.

Sources at the Federal Ministry of Justice revealed that alternative plots of land offered to Turai’s non governmental Organisation (NGO), Women and Youth Empowerment Foundation (WAYEF) were rejected, thereby paving the way for a total collapse of the peace talk.

According to the source, the Federal Government offered an alternative plot to the WAYEF at a meeting with authorities of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

However, this offer was said to have been rejected by WAYEF, the original owner of the disputed land for been too small and incapable of replacing or meeting its objectives.

The source added that two separate plots of land were offered to Turai’s NGO to choose from. The first plot No. 818, measuring 5333 square meters is located at the central area close to Akwa Ibom House; while the second plot No 3367 is along Airport Road, Wawa district, measuring 2.1 hectares.

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF), Mohammad Bello Adoke (SAN) had told the court the Federal Government would settle the dispute amicably.
Counsel from the AGF’s office  Baba Sa’idu last week Tuesday informed Justice Peter Arden of an Abuja High Court sitting in Bwari  that the  government was willing to settle the matter amicably out-of-court.

The said plot of land (plot 1347 Cadastral Zone, Central Business District Abuja measuring 1.84 hectares) according to documents before the court was dully allocated to WAYEF by the Minister for the FCT with the Right of Occupancy dully issued to it.

Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Balla Muhammed, Federal Capital Administration, Abuja
Geographic Information System (AGIS) and the AGF were listed as defendant in the matter.