FG Slams Anambra State with N50bn Lawsuit

The federal government has slammed Anambra State government with a N50 billion lawsuit for allegedly revoking 148.337 hectares of land acquired by the federal government for Sites and Services Scheme.

The land in contention is said to be at Amansea, in Awka North Local Government Area of the state.

The lawsuit, with case no. SC 876/2015 was filed before the Supreme Court, with the federal government asking the court to award it damages and seven other declarations.

The claims by the federal government contained in the writ of summons, include: “a declaration that the 148.337 hectares of land at Amansea, Awka North LGA, Anambra State, comprising Federal Government’s Sites and Services Scheme, Amansea/Awka, was lawfully acquired by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Anambra State Government in 1992, under the Land Use Act of 1978 (as amended).”

“A declaration that the Federal Government of Nigeria had duly paid the required compensation that was assessed to the knowledge of and active collaboration with the Anambra State Government.”

“A declaration that the Federal Government of Nigeria had duly granted Statutory Rights of Occupancy to her allotees and development partners, members of the public and original land owners to the knowledge of and active collaboration with the Anambra State Government.”

“A declaration that the purported revocation of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s rights and interests over the said Federal Government Sites and Services Scheme, Amansea/Awka, measuring 148.337 hectares of land, by the Anambra State Government vide a public notice, dated September 1, 2014, is wrongful, unlawful, null, void and of no effect whatsoever as same is neither supported by any extant law in force in Nigeria, nor done for any justifiable reasons, among others.”

The case has been adjourned to February 13, 2017 by the panel of judges.