Minister of Justice, Mohammad Bello Adoke (SAN)

Adebiyi Adedapo
 
Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mohammad Bello Adoke (SAN), has indicated interest to settle a legal battle between First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan, and her predecessor, Turai Yar’Adua, over an Abuja land out of court.

Counsel from the AGF’s office, Baba Sa’idu, informed Justice Peter Affen of an Abuja High Court sitting in Bwari yesterday that the government was willing to settle the matter amicably.

The said plots of land (plot 1347 Cadastral Zone, Central Business District, Abuja, measuring 1.84 hectares) according to documents before the court, was duly allocated to Turai’s non-governmental organisation - Women and Youth Empowerment Foundation (WAYEF) by the Minister of Federal Capital Territory with the Right of Occupancy duly issued to it.

The FCT authorities on November 2, 2011 via  a letter dated  October 27, 2011 issued a notice of revocation of the said property and was  re-allocated to another organisation, African First Ladies Peace Centre believed to be sponsored by Patience Jonathan.

WAYEF however got a court order restraining the defendants from affecting the title.

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

Respective counsel to FCT Administration and Abuja Geographic information System (AGIS), and WAYEF, Felix Ibanga and Innocent Lagi, consented to the development.

Lagi noted that it was not the first time the defendants had approached his client for settlement.

He stated that WAYEF had already begun the process of notice of committal to prison on the defendants by filing Forms 48 and 49, adding that it was unfortunate that people could no longer trust the government in the country.

The case has been adjourned to September 24, 2012 for report of settlement.