The director, FCT Parks and Recreation Department, Mr Rolands Ologun, is currently being detained at the Asokoro Police Station in connection with a plot of land measuring about two hectares, in Durumi, Abuja. The original allottees claim that the land had been re-allocated by the Parks and Recreation Department.
It was gathered that the plot, located on a green area to be used as a park, was allocated to Hamfaz Worldwide Ventures Nigeria Ltd in 2007.
Trouble reportedly started when the allottee wanted to commence development of the park but discovered that the plot was already being developed by another person who claimed that about one hectare of the land had been allocated to him by the Parks and Recreation Department.
This is despite the fact that the original allottee had paid all statutory fees in respect of the lease of the park for which receipts were duly issued.
Our sources said all efforts by Hamfaz Worldwide Ventures Nigeria Ltd to make the director reverse the allocation to the original allottee failed after which a ‘stop work’ order was issued on the park and the premises sealed off by the department.
The original allottee was said to have written a complaint letter to the FCT minister who approved that she should go and resume work on the park.
A copy of the approval was said to have been sent to the director of Parks, Ologun, and the coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Arch. Rueben Okoya, but he remained adamant, prompting the owner of the plot to approach the court where a warrant of arrest against him was issued.
The director, according to our source, was picked up at his office at Asokoro, on Wednesday evening, and was detained at the Asokoro District Police Station, from where he was taken to the Wuse Zone 6 Magistrates’ Court for arraignment at about 2:30pm yesterday.
He was, however, not arraigned as the trial magistrate was not in court and he was returned to police custody and could be arraigned today.
At the court yesterday, officials of the department loyal to the director were seen milling around the premises, while some tried to shield the director from cameras throughout the period he was there.
When contacted, the public relations officer of the department, Mr. Gabriel Ubahu, denied that the director was arrested.
