Enugu State government has asserted ownership of a disputed plot of land located at plot 804 of Wuye District of Abuja.
The state government, through the General Manager of the Enugu State Housing Development Corporation, Dr Gerald Asogwa, tendered documents to back up his claim.
According to Asogwa, a firm, Simonis Ventures Nigeria Ltd.is laying claim to the same land without proper document to back their claims.
He said Simonis Ventures has also launched a media campaign, making many false claims against the state government with an intent to deceive unsuspecting members of the public.
He said, “In 1992, Enugu State Government applied for a parcel of land in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The land was allocated on 14th January 1993. However, the allocation was erroneously issued in the name of Enugu State Property Development Corporation, instead of Enugu State Government or Enugu State Housing Development Corporation.
“There has never existed any parastatal, corporation, or company known as Enugu State Property Development Corporation at the time of allocation or thereafter. The named allottee therefore lacked legal personality and contractual capacity ab initio.
“In 2002, the said non-existent entity purportedly transferred the land to Simonis Ventures Nigeria Limited using a fake and fraudulent Irrevocable Power of Attorney dated 25/02/2002, suspiciously witnessed in 2005.
The document paraded was not sealed, had no Governor’s consent as required by law, was not co-signed by any government official, and failed to disclose the name or designation of any lawful executor. The document was clearly concocted to deceive authorities.
“Upon discovery of the anomaly, Enugu State Government formally applied to AGIS/FCT Authorities for correction. The wrongful allocation was cancelled, and Plot 804, Wuye, was re-allocated to Enugu State Government as the rightful owner.
“All requisite building approvals were subsequently obtained in the name of Enugu State Government, and development commenced before the unlawful destruction carried out by agents of Simonis Ventures Nigeria Limited.
“In 2016, Enugu State Government and Enugu State Housing Development Corporation instituted an action against Simonis Ventures Nigeria Limited seeking to nullify the fraudulent allocation and Certificate of Occupancy.
“Gentlemen of the press, it is a thing of joy to inform you that the prayers canvassed by both Enugu State Government and Enugu State Housing Development Corporation have seen the light of the day as the Honourable Minister of the FCT issued the Statutory Right of Occupancy in favour of Enugu State Government in 2023 as well as Certificate of Occupancy and Building Plan Approval in 2024. May I also inform you that the Honourable Minister, through the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS) had in 2023 revoked the fraudulent allocation of C-of-O issued to Simonis Ventures Nigeria Limited.”
The General Manager further explained that in 2014, Enugu State Government petitioned the Nigeria Police over the forged Power of Attorney and the Police investigation and confirmed that the document was fake and recommended prosecution.
He said the purported directors were discovered to be ghost identities, frustrating prosecution.
Also, according to him, in 2015, the EFCC investigated the matter and the late Senator Ayogu Eze, was identified as the person who received the Certificate of Occupancy on behalf of Enugu State Government.
He categorically stated that the land belonged to Enugu State Government and that he never claimed ownership.
He said at no time was any court order served on, submitted to, or delivered to Enugu State Government, Enugu State Housing Development Corporation, or any person, authority, or entity representing Enugu State Government.
He said the only reference to any purported court order arose during police investigation proceedings, when counsel to Simonis Ventures Nigeria Limited verbally stated, before the investigative team of the C.P. SWAT Division, that they allegedly had a court order which justified their actions.
“The said court order was never submitted to, served on, or delivered to Enugu State Government or any of its representatives.
“Accordingly, Enugu State Government categorically states that it only became aware of the alleged existence of such an order through an unsubstantiated oral assertion made during police investigation proceedings.
“In November 2025, Simonis Ventures Nigeria Limited resurfaced and filed an action at the Gwagwalada High Court seeking to enforce a 2016 order.
“The original 2016 order contained only one paragraph, yet the enforcement application fraudulently expanded it to two paragraphs, introducing reliefs that never existed.
“This constitutes a clear abuse of court process and fraud. The resurrection of the suit followed the death of Senator Ayogu Eze.
“Corporate records of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) show that ghost directors were replaced with family members of the deceased.
“The alleged order is fundamentally defective because it has no court process was served on Enugu State Government or its agencies; the State became aware of the matter only days after judgment; Enforcement was attempted through self-help without court bailiffs; no pre-action notice was served; the 2016 order relied upon was not certified as required by the Evidence Act (Exhibit 11); and the proof of service relied upon was false and forged (Exhibit 12).”
