in controversy over its alleged reluctance to investigate a 13-year old petition alleging an illegal sale of a
parcel of land in Abuja, with the use of forged Certificate of occupancy.
The petitioner, Mr. Philip Odigie, a businessman and Managing Director of Philova and Jason
Engineering Company, told Alltimepost.com that he acquired the Plot number 694 Zone A3 Garki II,
Abuja, in 1989.
The plot, according to him was initially covered by the Certificate of Occupancy or C of O, number
FCT/ABU/MIS 3794 issued by the Federal Capital Development Authority, Abuja.
Asked why he feels the EFCC is reluctant to look into his petition, Odigie said that his plight may not be
unconnected with the speculation that a Lebanese businessman who is allegedly trespassing enjoys a
warm relationship with the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, now Governor El Rufai of
Kaduna state.
He said he came to this conclusion based on the findings of an investigative public hearing on the matter
by the Senate Committee on the FCT contained in a letter dated 25th June 2009 with reference number
NASS/S/CFCT/SECT/01/41 and signed by its chairman Senator Abubakar D. Sodangi.
In that letter the committee informed the Minister of the FCT that, “the former Minister, Mallam Nasir
El Rufai was using EFCC operatives to intimidate the Managing Director with the aim of forcibly
collecting the c of O.”
The committee asked the Minister to restore the plot to Mr. Odigie while compensation should be paid
for the demolition of his structures on it by the trespassers in addition to recommending that the EFCC
obey the court ruling order to pay him N1million compensation and N100, 000 in lieu of public apology.
Till date he said he has not heard from the Commission about his petition or the court order adding that
the seeming lack of interest, ominous silence and non-concern over the petition creates the erroneous
impression in the mind of the public that it was created to favor some citizens.
He added that the motive of the authors of the forgery was to defraud him and rob him of the plot of
land which he legitimately acquired as a bona fide citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, after
instigating his illegal arrest and dehumanization in detention.
According to Mr. Odigie, the Certificate of occupancy for his plot was revalidated in 2004 by the Lands
Registry Office Abuja, on the orders of Mallam Nasir El Rufai who was then Minister of the Federal
Capital Territory as C of O number 19law-17bo3- 5e8br-a46av20.
The Commission on March 4 2008 received a petition from Mr. Odigie’s attorney titled, “Appeal for
proper investigation in Re-forgery of Certificate of occupancy and building plan approval in respect of
Plot 694 Zone A3 Garki II, Abuja.”
In that petition, Mr. Odigie narrated how when he wanted to dispose of the plot of land in 1998, he gave
a fellow Nigerian from Edo state, Mr. Ephraim Ikhuenobe, who is the Managing Director of Passman
Property Developers and Contractors photocopies of the C of O.
This he said was when Mr. Ikhuenobe informed him that he needed the papers to show a Lebanese
businessman representing Nassertex Brothers based in Kano who was interested in the plot.
Odigie told the EFCC that thereafter he did not get any feedback from the said Ikhuenobe only to find
out on a visit to the plot of land in 1999, that the Lebanese was erecting a warehouse on it.
Whereas all attempts to get in touch with Ikhuenobe failed, he was informed after trips to the Federal
Capital Development Authority, Abuja that the C of O issued to him over the land has not been revoked.
He also said that after his petition to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory calling for a demolition
of the illegal structure on his plot of land and stopping the Lebanese from further illegal development hit
a brick wall, he sought legal redress.
In the course of the proceedings in the suit number FCT/HC/CV/691/2000 at the High Court 2 Abuja, it
was revealed that all the documents of the said land including the C of O were forged.
This, the court found out was done by the officials of the Federal Capital Development Authority, Abuja
colluding with Mr. Ephraim Ikhuenobe and the Lebanese businessman who owns Nassertex Brothers
Kano.
Mr. Odigie said that it was these revelations that informed his 2004 petition to the EFCC which officials
ironically turned against him by arresting him and demanding that he should hand over to them the
original and valid C of O for his plot of land, to regain his freedom.
He said though he refused to meet the demands of the EFCC officials, who were obviously acting a
script, he was later released after a dehumanizing tenure in detention, while the investigation of his
allegation contained in the petition to the EFCC is still pending.
Although he got a court judgment in his favor after his release for the violation of his fundamental
human rights, he said that was why he took his case to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
As at press time, Alltimepost.com could not reach the EFCC for comments.
