Protesters storms Maitama Over ‘Illegal’ Enforcement by NNPC Staff, Asabe Waziri, Police, FCT Court Officials

Protesters in their large numbers stormed Maitama district of the Federal Capital Territory, to protest what they described as illegal siege on a property, located at No. 1 Mekong Close.

Two flats in the property of 15 flats have been in dispute between Abeh Signatures Limited and Asabe Waziri, a millionaire civil servant and staff of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited for over two years.

During the protest on Tuesday, the Resident Facility Manager, Monday Fada, who led other protesters said in the last one week, the peace of the area and the property has been disrupted.

They called on the Inspector -General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun to call his men to order to avoid breakdown of law and order.

The facility manager alleged that the police are being used to perpetuatr illegalities by aiding Mrs Waziri to gain possession of the property.

He said, “We had an invasion here on Friday by one Madam Asabe Waziri, using the police to come and disrupt the peace in our property without any valid court, no notice, nothing.

“They had the backing of the police and they came and vandalized people’s property here.

“We are calling on President Bola Tinubu, the FCT minister, and the Inspector -General of police to intervene and restore peace to this property because that is what we need in this here.

“If there is any issue on the property, the court is there to hear the grievances of all parties. We want the rule of law to prevail, things should be done with due process.

“These are investors who have invested heavily, so the president should not allow this to happen as it will discourage other investors.”

Last week, a lawyer, Mr Victor Giwa, wrote the IGP to halt the illegalities being perpetuated by the Nigerian Police and Ms Asabe Waziri.

In the letter dated March 1, 2024, signed by Barrister Giwa, the lawyer accused policemen under the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations of giving backing to break into a property located at No. 1Mekong Close, Maitama, Abuja.

The lawyer called for the intervention of the IGP to halt what could lead to breakdown of law and order in the area.

Giwa said in the, letter, “Staff of our client approached them to find out why they were criminally intimidating and trespassing into the property without any authorization or any valid Order of Court which no body answered. The hoodiums accompanied by the Police went straight to Flat 3B and 3C, broke down the entire doors and windows without consent or authorization of the resident who were not even at home and began to vandalize, destroy and bring out all the belongings inside the 2 Flats.

“The Manager of the apartment upon approaching the hoodlums to find out what is actually going on, was threatened that if he tried anything funny, he will be shot and brutalized. The manager later found out from one of the policemen that they were instructed to come there upon the malicious instigation of one Asabe Waziri and the FCT High Court Director of Enforcement Mr Tony Chukwuemeka Ubani who are both parties to various Court cases revolving around this particular property.

“Asabe Waziri and Mr Tony Ubani hoodwinked the DIG Police Force Operations to enforce an Order of Court which is not enforceable. The Case is already pending before the Court of Appeal Abuja Judicial Division and even the Court was of the opinion that the Order/Judgment cannot be enforced as it was just an Order to maintain Status quo.

“The property that was criminally trespassed is also currently Lis Pendens and a subject of Litigation pending before a Court of law. This development is totally strange and unlawful as there is an already subsisting Court Order from FCT High Court Bwari restraining Asabe Waziri from interfering, trespassing, disturbing the quiet possession of the residents and she was further estopped from doing anything adverse to the property described as a two (2) bedroom unit of flat 3B and 3C, Abeh Signature Apartments, 1 Mekong Close Maitama Abuja pending the determination of the substantive suit with reference number: CV/3261/22. Please find attached a copy of the Court Order and pictures taken from the incidence annexed to this petition. The unlawful actions of parties involved caused a lot of damages to the properties of the residents worth Millions of Naira. We respectfully call on your good office to investigate into these illegal and unlawful acts and subsequently prosecute them accordingly. Please accept the assurances of our professional regards always.”