EFFORTS by representatives of former first lady Turai Yar’Adua and current first lady Patience Jonathan to resolve a recent land dispute out of court may be headed for the rocks, as the former first lady is said to have rejected the offers made her as of Monday.
The plot in question is located at the Central Business District of Abuja, for which the former first lady had been issued the options of a separate but smaller plot in the area, or another one outside the more developed areas of the Federal Capital Territory.
Mrs. Yar’Adua is said to have rejected both options, according to a report published by the Premium Times newspaper on Tuesday. The former first lady is insisting that only an alternative property within the high-brow Central Business District would suffice.
“We are definitely returning to the court,” Premium Times quoted the source to have said. “We will have to wait for the court ruling and I can assure you we will go as far as the Supreme Court.”
Mrs. Jonathan however still has a way out of the logjam if she is open to making a brand new offer that will meet the conditions being demanded by Mrs. Yar’Adua.
“We have informed them of our position, and we expect their reply tomorrow,” said the Premium Times source.
Both teams had agreed to explore an out-of-court settlement last week. A report of the progress of settlement is to be filed at an Abuja High court on September 24 when the courts resume from recess.
The property has pitted the two women against each other, after the FCT minister, Bala Mohammed, revoked its earlier allocation to Mrs. Yar’adua, and reassigned same to Mrs. Jonathan, sparking a legal contest.
The confrontation has given a glimpse into the subtle feud between Mrs. Jonathan and Mrs. Yar’adua since the former president left office.
Allocated to Mrs. Yar’Adua’s Women and Youth Empowerment Foundation (WAYEF) in February 2010, the contentious land was revoked by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Bala Mohammed, in November 2011 and reallocated to Mrs. Jonathan-led African First Ladies’ Peace Mission after Mr. Yar’Adua’s passing.
The minister, Mr. Mohammed, said the revocation was in public interest.
Last week, Mrs. Jonathan hosted wives of other African leaders in Abuja during which a foundation laying ceremony was performed near the land.
- Report Courtesy of Premium Times.