Court decides ownership of ex-govt property
Lagos State High Court has held that the Chief Executive Officer of Web Towers, Felix Ezeamama, is the owner of the property at 41, Kingsway Road (Alfred Rewane Road), Ikoyi.
The case was decided after a long legal battle initiated by a tenant, Halima Abubakar.
The court heard the building belonged to Federal Government and managed by Federal Ministry of Housing, with 14 federal workers in it.
In 2005, government came up with a policy vesting in sitting tenants the right of first refusal to buy property.
But, on March 30, 2006, the ministry informed tenants of its intention to redevelop the property and asked them to vacate in 30 days.
On July 8, 2008, the 14 tenants entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Web Towers, with a Power of Attorney and Deed of Assignment.
Web Towers was empowered to negotiate with Federal Government Presidential Implementation Committee to secure Letters of Offer to buy the property.
It was agreed upon success of the negotiation, the tenants would assign their right of first refusal on the property to Web Towers in consideration of N7 million as payment to each tenant.
As part payment of the N7 million, Web Towers paid N500,000 to the 14 tenants, which empowered it to liaise with the Presidential Implementation Committee.
Web Towers was also empowered to pay for the property, take possession and exercise control over it.
On July 10, Lagos High Court, in suit LD/2036GCMW/16, held that Abubakar, on receipt of a compensatory sum from Web Towers, should vacate the premises.
