In what residents describe as an extortion campaign through force, threats, and intimidation, occupants of the Prince and Princess Estate in Abuja have called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to take immediate action.
The residents also urged members of the National Assembly to investigate what they termed illegal activities and harassment by the estate’s developer, Chief Nicolas Ukachukwu.
The estate, with a population exceeding 10,000 residents and over 1,500 residential units, is valued at approximately N200 billion. However, residents claim they are being subjected to illegal levies, violation of the owner-occupier principle, imposition of a facility management company, obstruction of security services, and refusal to process Certificates of Occupancy (C of O).
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During a press briefing on Friday, Ambassador Mohammed Ibrahim, leader of the Elders and Board of Trustees of the estate, expressed frustration over the developer’s alleged refusal to honor the terms of the development agreement, despite having received full payment. Ibrahim claimed that the developer continues to exploit the residents, creating chaos and insecurity within the estate.
Ibrahim revealed that the residents have formally written to the FCT Minister and the FCT Police Command, urging them to enforce the development lease agreement signed with the developer. Their demands include an inspection of the estate by the relevant authorities to verify various contraventions, commencement of the process for issuing Certificates of Occupancy to homeowners, and the evacuation of the developer’s security personnel from the estate gates.
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“We appeal to the government to intervene and prevent the use of police connections to harass the president and staff of the residents’ association. We also urge authorities to halt attempts to intimidate and prosecute them based on baseless allegations,” Ibrahim said.
Attempts to reach Chief Nicolas Ukachukwu for comments on the allegations were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report, as calls and messages went unanswered.