THE explanation by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Bala Mohammed to the effect that a disputed choice piece of land in Abuja originally belonged to one of the two organisations contesting its ownership, is somewhat belated, and altogether tepid. It did very little to assuage wide spread belief that the entire transaction is bereft of transparency and due process. Besides, the fact that the dispute involves the current First Lady and her immediate predecessor diminishes the respect and dignity that should ordinarily attach to that office, extra-constitutional as it is.But the dispute, still pending in court, is hardly surprising because the manner of land allocations in the nation's capital has always been enmeshed in corrupt practices, which the country needs to brace up to. The present scandal is only loud because it involves two prominent women. Many applicants have complained about brazen irregularities within the ministry. Some individuals have had their allocations transferred illegally to other persons without their knowledge or consent. Others have had their original allocations arbitrarily withdrawn, and less attractive locations offered in lieu, to mollify them. Certificates of Ownership (C of O) have been known to be issued to more than one person for the same property. The racketeering going on in Abuja land matters fully qualifies for a formal inquiry to bring the erring parties to book. The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have both decried the corruption in the Abuja land administration process. What remains is the political will to initiate appropriate action.In the light of these shortcomings, the high profile land dispute between former First Lady, Mrs. Turai Yar'Adua and current First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan is detestable. Apparently both women are interested in acquiring the same property, although one got there before the other. Press reports say that Plot 1347 Cadastral Zone, Central Business District, Abuja, measuring 1.84 hectares 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 after more than N200 million in associated charges, including approval fees for building plans had been paid. The land allocation, issued in February 2010 by a former minister of FCT, was however, revoked by the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Alhaji Bala Mohammed, in November 2011 on grounds of 'overriding public interest'. He then reallocated the land to Mrs. Patience Jonathan-led African First Ladies' Peace Mission (AFLPM), an NGO under the African Union (AU). Mrs. Jonathan has said that she wants to build the secretariat of the First Ladies Peace Mission on the land. Mrs. Yar'Adua's lawyers went to court to stop Mrs. Jonathan from trespass. In a bid to avert a fast deteriorating situation, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister Of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, notified the presiding judge of the Abuja High Court, Justice Peter Affen, of the Federal Government's intention to settle the matter out of court. The court in apparent agreement has adjourned till September 24 to hear from the Federal Government.Following public uproar and criticism of the FCT's handling of the matter, the minister issued a statement through his spokesman, explaining that Turai Yar'Adua's NGO was not genuinely allocated the land, and that it was indeed originally allocated to AFLPM in June 2008. He claimed that, 'silent reallocation was perpetrated' in favour of WYEF in 2010 without a revocation of the original allocation. He described the AFLPM as a reputable institutional centre belonging to all African First Ladies, and that it will be superintended by the office of the First Lady of the host nation, in this instance, Nigeria.This story, however one looks at it, is ugly. This is the first time Nigerians have seen an open quarrel between past and present first ladies in the country. The entire episode diminishes the nation and throws up unsavoury issues of power, sycophancy, greed and corruption. Nigeria's battered image has taken a new beating with this scandal. Those who think that the dispute is between two women miss the point. What is at issue goes beyond both women as it involves foundational aspects of the Nigerian Constitution, including the rule of law, the right to fair hearing, the right to own property and the nature of Nigerian justice.But the case is not helped by brushing matters under the carpet as the suggested out of court settlement tends to portray. Indeed, the minister's explanation is a good reason why the court should be allowed to determine the rights of the litigants. In a democracy, the people ought to know how their leaders and their wives are behaving. In the interest of transparency and accountability, therefore, this dispute that is evidently of public interest, should be heard in open court with appropriate judgment and penalties meted out to anyone found guilty of impunity, abuse of office and corruption.
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