Abuja – February 20, 2024 – Viewpoint Housing News.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is not permitted to trespass on any land that is owned by the Centenary Economic City Free Zone (CECFZ) or the Centenary City Free Zone Company (CCFZC).
The Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and Arab Contractors Nigeria Limited were also placed under judicial restraint by Justice Inyang Ekwo. The Attorney-General of Federation (AGF), the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, the FCTA, and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (PFRN) are also named as defendants in the lawsuit.
The administration of Centenary City had accused the FCTA of assisting Arab Contractors, without licence or approval from NEPZA, which has regulatory rights over the property, transform a portion of the land allotted to them to their site yard.
They further claimed that Arab Contractors had ruined and vandalised the Centenary Economic City Free Zone’s master plan and that, as a result of their actions, the federal government’s assets and project investments are currently in jeopardy.
The verdict, which was rendered on February 6 but was referenced by the media on Monday, supported Centenary City’s claims and concluded that they had shown enough evidence to support their claim.
“The plaintiffs are therefore entitled to the claims sought in this case, and I so hold,” declared Justice Ekwo.
In a supplementary affidavit, Ikechukwu Odenigwe, the Managing Director of the CCFZC, said that his business had brought the case to contest the distortion of the 1,264.78 hectares of property since it had all the necessary permits, including from the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
