Diezani’s Bella Vista Estates Causing Facility Management Ripples in Banana Island, Lagos

Bennett Oghifo 

The homeowners in Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos are gravely concerned that the Bella Vista estates the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) ceased from Diezani Alison-Maduake is beginning to blight the pristine community for lack of payment of maintenance fees.

The homeowners are also accusing the facility management board, which they said is headed by Indians, of imposing huge facility management charges on them that can run into billions of Naira annually, while they pay the Nigerians working for them peanuts.

The EFCC sold the Bella Vista estates to the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC), “which has refused to pay the accumulated service charges during the seizure,” according to the immediate past Chairperson of the homeowners association, Chief Mrs. Adunni Udu.

However, a source at LSDPC, who wishes to remain anonymous, said, “They gave us a ridiculous bill from the period EFCC confiscated the estates. Our position, which we told them, is that we are not the ones using them, but that we are willing to pay for the maintenance of the common facilities, because the buildings are unoccupied. But they said we must pay for the buildings and the common facilities and this runs into millions of Naira. We negotiated and gave them an offer, which they turned down.” He did not disclose what they offered to pay.

Regardless, the homeowners have warned prospective buyers of the estates of the huge debt, saying, “We will not accept indiscipline from LSDPC. Their ostentatious behavior is unacceptable in Bella Vista Estate. “We must be in control of Bella Vista, where law and order takes precedence, ruled by disciplined homeowners of good repute. We will not allow LSDPC to destroy our esteemed estate as they have done to their other estates. LSDPC has refused to accept that the onus of assets and liabilities is upon the buyer.”

About the homeowners’ discontent with the facility management board, they said, “The motive of this Cartel is to milk the residents of Bella Vista through continued outrageous facility service charges.” 

The homeowners said they engaged a company named Oyenuga Sulaiman and Co for forensic auditing of some of the years. Chief Udu alleged that the torchlight exposed “how the service fees of residents were elevated to sponsor supermarkets whose majority shareholders’ ownership were linked to the foreigners, using Nigerians as their perpetrators.”

The homeowners association, said they “feel the facility management company influenced membership of the board obnoxious managerial interest abinitio.

“These foreigners are here in Nigeria to suck the economy dry; they are mainly fair-weather friends of Nigeria.

“The homeowners have resolved that prospective buyers should take the responsibility to carry out their search to avoid looming legal battles in their position.

“The Homeowners resolved to notify all purported purchasers and members of the public generally interested in acquiring any apartment in Block B3, Bella Vista Estate, Banana Island in Pursuant to our earlier publication made via THISDAY Newspaper on Monday, January 9, 2023.

“The public is hereby cautioned against entering any transaction involving the purchase, lease, or any other dealing with Units of Block B3, Bella Vista Estate (the “Property”), located at Plot 1, Zone N, Banana Island, Lagos.

“This caveat is issued due to an outstanding debt due to Bussecomm Nigeria Plc, the lessors of Bella Vista Estate. The said debt remains unpaid by the new sub-lessor, and as such, the Property is subject to a cautionary interest held by Bussecomm Nigeria Plc to secure the settlement of these dues.

“For the avoidance of doubt, any individual or entity purporting to purchase or deal with the Property does so at their own risk.

“Buyers be prepared to pay for the liabilities of accumulated bills to Bussecomm Nigeria Plc. Buyers will be refused possession and documentation.

“Members of the public are therefore strongly advised to exercise due diligence and seek independent legal counsel before proceeding with any transactions involving the Property.

“This serves as a formal warning to avoid dealings that may result in financial loss or legal complications. For further inquiries or to verify the status of the Property, kindly visit Bella Vista Estate Office at Plot 1, Zone N, Banana Island, Lagos. Call 0803 278 5509, 0704 8667454, 0706803 4686 or send an email to sadekoya@atislimited.com.”