In what seems to be extortion through force, threats and intimidation, residents of Prince and Princess, a popular estate in Abuja, have called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike to intervene.
They also pleaded with members of the National Assembly to look into what they described as alleged illegal activities and harassment of legitimate residents by its developer, Chief Nicolas Ukacukwu.
The estate estimated to have a population of over 10,000 residents and about 1,500 residential accommodations, is valued at about N200 billion.
According to the residents, they have been exposed to illegal levies, violation of the principle of owner-occupier, imposition of facility management company, refusal to process Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) as well as obstruction on provision of security services amongst others.
Briefing reporters on Friday, leader of the Elders and Board of Trustees of the Estate, Amb. Mohammed Ibrahim, said despite full patent to the developer as indicated in the terms of agreement, and in consonance with federal government plans of mass housing which served as bait for the buyers, the developer has refused to go and has continued to milk the residents and create a chaotic and illegal development that will encourage insecurity.
To this effect, Amb. Ibrahim said they have written to the FCT Minister and the FCT police command to demand for implementation and enforcement of the terms of the development lease agreement signed with the developer.
Other things demanded, he said are: “inspection of the Estate by the relevant team from the FCDA to verify various contraventions to prevent attendant negative consequences to the interest of residents in the Estate, as well as commence the direct process for issuance of Certificate of Occupancy to the house owners with the supervision of a designated officer from FCDA for implementation within a specific timeframe.
“To instruct the Developer and their agents to evacuate their security personnel deployed to the estate gates. We hereby appeal to the government to intervene and nip in the bud the use of the police connections to harass and threaten the persons and lives of the President and staff of the Association; and to also forestall the attempt to use unfounded allegations to intimidate and prosecute the President of the Association and his staff.”
As at the time of filling in this report, all efforts to reach the developer, Mr. Ukachukwu through phone calls and text messages to react to the allegations were futile.