Court slams N10.5m fine against Abuja-based estate developer

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Nyanya on Monday slammed a N10.5 million fine on an Abuja-based estate developer, Valington Homes and Property Development Services, for trespass.

A plot of land allocated to Adebayo Opabiyi by the FCT authorities was said to have been allegedly forcefully encroached upon by the company.

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Delivering judgement, Justice Edward Okpe held that the plaintiff has proven ownership of the land known as Plot 285 at the Jikwoyi Extension District of Abuja.

The court ruled that the plaintiff presented valid documents from the FCT, showing he was duly allocated with the said property.

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The judge stated that the company was wrong in moving earth equipment, especially excavators, to the land to destroy structures erected by the owner for the purpose of establishing its own presence on the land.

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The court therefore, ordered the company to pay the plaintiff N10 million as compensation for the willful destruction of the properties on the land.

It also ordered that another N500,000 be paid to the plaintiff as the cost of prosecuting the case.

Justice Okpe further directed that 10 percent of the fine must be paid annually by the company until the judgement debt is fully liquidated.