Residents of Abuja have asked an FCT High Court to stop the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike from re-allocating the Jabi Lake Park to private estate developers.
The suit was brought by Godey Iwebuke Daniel and Ahmad El Rufai Rilwan, on behalf of thousands of Kado Estates Residents Association and Citec and Life Camp residents and residents of Abuja metropolis who use the park for recreational activities.
The suit, which was filed by their lawyer, Isaac E.Ekpa Esq, has the FCT Minister, the Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, Abuja, FCT, the Surburban Broadband Limited, the Akida Hills Limited and the Attorney General of the Federation/Minister of Justice.
The residents are demanding, among others, a declaration that the Jabi Lake Park is a public park for recreational activities for Abuja residents having been inaugurated by President Olusegun Obasanjo on May 7, 2007.
Further, the residents want a declaration that the award of the Jabi Lake Park to private
developers for residential and commercial purpose is an infringement on the rights of the plaintiffs and members of public in Abuja.
Furthermore, they want a declaration that the proposed development and allocation are
unlawful, illegal null and void.
Consequently, they want the court to make an orded setting aside the purported approval or allocations to the private developers Messrs Suburban Broadband Limited and Akida Hills Limited, a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from entering the land and do any development thereto and the award of N50 million in their favour as general damages for encroachment, meddlesome and tampering with the smooth operations of their affairs.
In their affidavit in support of the suit, the residents aver that the FCT Minister’s re-allocation of the park was not for public interest.
Among other points, they aver that “the Jabi lake park and its surroundings offer a range o leisure activities such as volleyball, football. badminton, horse racing, aerobics, skating, walking fishing, boat riding, gymnnastics, pay grounds for children and relaxation for adults.
“That Jabi Lake is one of the few public spaces in the city, and there is need to preserve and uphold regulations regarding parks and recreation without violating the Abuja master plan.”
