According to a Court deposition made by Alhaji Muhammad Bello, Nigeria’s minister of the Federal Capital Territory, the daughter of former President Umaru Yar’Adua, Zainab, forged several documents to lay claim to a disputed plot of land.
In a joint statement of defence to a legal action instituted by Zainab on the ownership of Plot 506, Zone B 09, Kado District, Abuja, the minister and the FCDA, who are 3rd and 4th defendants in the suit, denied ever allocating any land to the plaintiff.
According to the joint statement dated September 21, 2021, the power of attorney donated by one Haliru Malami and based on which Zainab lays claim to the land, was later disowned by the donor.
Zainab, had in the name of her company, Marumza Estate Development Company Limited, dragged Itban Global Resources Limited, Haliru Malami, FCT minister and FCDA before a High Court of the FCT laying claim to the land, alleging that she got the allocation from the FCDA through Itban and Malami.
However, as the 3rd and 4th respondents averred that before the court, Zainab had allegedly given conflicting accounts of how the land was purportedly acquired through a former Minister of the FCT.
They stated that the 1st defendant, who allegedly sold the land, issued a letter on March 4, 2021, denying ever selling the land and issuing power of attorney to Marumza Estate Development Company Limited.
In his ruling at Wednesday’s proceedings, Justice Olukayode Adeniyi granted permission to the plaintiff to amend her statement of claim, fixing definite hearing for December 15 and 16.
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