With multiple documents, Enugu govt proves ownership of Abuja property

The state government maintained that the property located in Wuye district of Abuja has never changed ownership and accused Simonis Nigeria Limited of faking a Power of Attorney

The Enugu State Government has asserted its ownership of a disputed plot of land located at Cadastal Zone B03, Wuye District, Abuja, saying the disputant, Simonis Ventures Nigeria Limited, had no valid claim or interest in the said property. The government accused Simonis of a failed attempt to fraudulently acquire Plot 804 in the said Wuye District measuring about 1.04 hectres through fraudulent transfer of ownership, insisting that the property had not changed ownership since it was first allocated to Enugu State.

It explained that investigations by both the police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had since established the Enugu State Government as the rightful owners of the said property. The assertions were made by the General Manager (GM), Enugu State Housing Development Corporation, Dr Gerald Asogwa, at a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, during which he also exhibited all the documents claimed.

According to Mr Asogwa, the initial (first) application for a plot of land in the Federal Capital Territory was made by the Enugu State Government during the administration of former Governor Okwesilieze Nwodo in 1992, a request that was granted on 14 January, 1993. The government, however, explained that “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.”

It, therefore, wondered how a non-legal personality could have been transferred to Simonis Ventures Nigeria Limited. “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.

“Yet 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.

“But the said Power of Attorney 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 and is attached as Exhibit 3,” Mr Asogwa declared.

He explained that upon discovery of the said anomaly, the Enugu State Government applied to the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS)/FCT Authorities for correction, following which “the wrongful allocation was cancelled, and Plot 804, Wuye, was re-allocated to Enugu State Government as the rightful owner.

“The Right of Occupancy, Certificate of Occupancy, and 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,” he stated.

Mr Asogwa, however, said that the police’ were unable to prosecute those behind the faking of the Power of Attorney, “as the purported directors were discovered to be ghost identities and frustrating prosecution,” noting that the addresses were equally nonexistent. He also faulted the attempt by Simonis to dress its directors in the images of Senator Ayogu Eze’s family members, more so as the late senator while alive had averred that the land belonged to Enugu State Government.

“In 2015, the EFCC Abuja investigated the matter. 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 stated.

On the court order paraded by Simonis Limited, Mr Asogwa stated that “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.”

The state government accused Simonis of abuse of court process, wondering why a court order purportedly obtained in 2016 only surfaced in 2025 after the demise of Senator Eze. “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 status report is attached as Exhibit 9,” it explained. Enugu State Government insisted that the said court order was “fundamentally defective.”

“The alleged order is fundamentally defective because: 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), the proof of service relied upon was false and forged (Exhibit 12). Indeed, the order was obtained by fraud and is liable to be set aside,” the GM declared.

The state government accused Simonis and its partner, Zoe New Dawn, and one Stephen Achama of criminal conduct and public deception, including attack on Enugu State’s site workers, destruction of property as well as fraudulent marketing of the said property as though it belonged to them.

The state government asserted that the land was currently being developed as Woodlands Estate by Tout Moi Nigeria Limited under a valid and subsisting contractual arrangement for Enugu State Government, warning that anyone transacting with Simonis Limited, Zoe New Dawn, and Achama in respect of the said plot does so at his or her own risk.

Mr Asogwa added that contrary to the claims by a representative of Simonis in the media, Enugu State Government, not Simonis Limited, carried out all the physical development of the said plot. “These purported sales are illegal, void, and of no legal effect, as Simonis Ventures Nigeria Limited has no valid interest in the land and no right whatsoever to alienate, assign, sell, transfer, or otherwise deal with the property,” he concluded.