Nigerian govt marks ex-First Lady Mrs Jonathan’s hotel for demolition

A gigantic property, sitting on a large expanse of land, opposite the headquarters of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Jabi, Abuja, said to belong to Nigeria’s former First Lady, Patience Jonathan has been marked for possible demolition.

Authorities in development control, a department under the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMAC) revealed that the multi-billion naira property was a contravention of development control laws in the FCT, as it was sitting on a green area..

One of the directors who spoke to us under condition of anonymity, during our investigation explained: “we have served them notice to stop further development of the property and produce necessary approvals within six days before resuming work, failure to do which, we will be left with no option but to remove the whole property.

Referring to the former first Lady’s property, the director said: “That place is a green area, and the property on it looks like a hotel. And you can imaging the deceit there, the signboard outside the property indicates that it is a foundation or an NGO home (A. Aruera Reachout Foundation/Women for Change and Development Initiative), but the real property inside is something else.”

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Mrs Jonathan had on several occasions claimed ownership of the said foundation, which the Economic and Financila Crimes Commission has also alleged was used to launder stolen funds.

The source also alleged that an FCTA official, a certain Deputy Director of the department, who visited the place last month for inspection, was assaulted by thugs, allegedly on the orders of the former first Lady who reportedly initiated the assault with a slap before the thugs swarm on him.

The Deputy Director while confirming the assault allegations, also collaborated the source in insisting that all structures that contravene the development guidelines would surely be removed irrespective of the position of their owners in the society, advising the highly placed in Nigeria to set example by abiding to the laws of the land.

All efforts to get either the former first Lady or her representative were not successful, as the security personnel manning the building did not volunteer information on their contacts or whereabouts.

By Ehisuan Odia…

 

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