Tetrazzini Foods PLC has said a land located at Wole Olateju Crescent, Lekki Lagos State belongs to Drabella Nigeria Limited and not a former Minister of Transportation, Admiral Festus Porbeni (Rtd), urging the public to ignore the false claim.
In a statement on Sunday issued by the Chairman of Tetrazzini Foods Plc, Chief Prince Don Okonkwo said the claim by Porbeni and certain Good Governance Alliance Nigeria (GGA-N) regarding their ownership of the property is false and baseless.
“The property in question belongs to Darrabella Nigeria Ltd, which holds a valid Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) issued by the Lagos State Government. The title, registered as Number 24 on Page 24 in Volume 1991, confirms Darrabella Nigeria Ltd as the lawful owner of the said property”, Chief Prince Don Okonkwo said in a statement on Sunday.
He accused Admiral Porbeni (Rtd), of leveraging on his influence to unlawfully occupy the property as well as receiving rents from boat owners under the pretext that the land belongs to him.
This action the Tetrazzini Foods Chairman says is a clear example of land grabbing, a menace the Lagos State Government is actively working to eradicate.
He said contrary to false claims, there is no judgment by any court in Nigeria affirming Admiral Porbeni (Rtd) as the owner of the land in question, nor is there any action pending before any Court of competent jurisdiction disputing Drabella Nigeria Limited’s ownership of the said property.
“The alleged extant Order of the Federal High Court in Suit No FHC/L/CS/1384/2021 cited by Admiral Porbeni (Rtd) was set aside, as the Federal High Court rightly determined that it lacked jurisdiction over land matters, which fall exclusively within the purview of the State High Courts”, the statement added.
It added that Lagos State Task Force on Land Grabbing, acting within its legal mandate, took decisive action, enforcing the law to dislodge the illegal occupants and restore order to the high-brow Lekki neighbourhood, an intervention the firm says is part of the Lagos State Government’s broader efforts to combat land grabbing and uphold the rights of lawful property owners.
“We strongly condemn the deliberate spread of false information aimed at undermining the efforts of the Lagos State Government to uphold property rights, ensure adherence to the rule of law and the rights of individuals and corporations alike to enjoy their property rights without fear of land grabbing from unscrupulous persons. It is essential for media outlets, organizations, and individuals to seek accurate information before disseminating reports that mislead the public and tarnish reputations”, Tetrazzini Foods Plc stated.