Residents of Festac
Town, Lagos, have reiterated their resolve not to pay any land charges
to the Lagos State government, until judgement is based on the suit in
court on the issue.
At a meeting of Festival Town Residents
Association (FTRA) on Saturday, it was agreed that such a move would
amount to double taxation.
President of FTRA, Mr Jola Ogunlusi,
said, "if enforced, it will lead to double taxation as we have been
paying ground rent to the Federal Housing Authority (FHA)".
In 2008, Festac residents filed a suit
before a Federal High Court in Lagos, for an order to restrain the Lagos
State government from enforcing the Land Use Charge, 2001, on them.
"But, be rest assured that on your
behalf, we will not relent until we have got an injunction that will
make you to sleep in your houses without harassment," Ogunlusi told
hundreds of residents at their quarterly meeting.
He regretted that, in spite of the case
pending in court, the Lagos State Government, through its Land Use
Charge Office, had commenced the serving of a "Notice of Default" on
properties of some residents of the sprawling housing estate.
The notice, which was read at the
meeting reads: "Take notice that the owners/occupiers of this property
have failed or neglected and or refused to comply with the payment of
the land use charges levied on this property, in pursuant to the
provision of land use charge law, 2001, section 9, 17 and 19.
"The consequence of such default is that
the owner/occupier shall have the property sealed and liable for
receivership and/or to a term of imprisonment or both, until all
outstanding charges, penalties and administrative charges are paid."
Ogunlusi said, "because of that order,
we have to file a perpetual injunction; this we are expecting to be
argued anytime from now.
"This is to stop the Lagos State government from harassing us, embarrassing us by pasting all these".
He urged that residents to remove such notices and give to the FTRA, adding: "It is going to be evidence we'll tender in the court.
"With the case on appeal, nobody can eject you from your house".
On the nation's current security
challenges, Ogunlusi, who is also a veteran journalist, urged residents
to be vigilant saying: "there have been reports of strange faces coming
into Festac in their hundreds.
"Some people are harbouring them. We
must report on the movement of these elements to the security agents,
the local government and the FTRA. We should know where they live among
us".
Earlier, Mr Alex Edoh, Chairman,
Community 1, and host of the meeting, demanded that the Power Holding
Company of Nigeria (PHCN) be reminded of its short comings in Festac.
"The billing system of PHCN in Festac is
weird. The marketing department of PHCN is a government unto itself.
Bills are issued, not according to metre reading, but by imagination.
"Lawful consumers pay for power consumed
by un-metered PHCN staff-customers. Some of these PHCN staff- consumers
have not paid bills for upwards of two years, and yet, they are not
disconnected," Edoh noted.
In his response, Mr Billy Odeyinka, Business Manager, PHCN, Festac District, said he was aware of the problems.
Odeyinka, however, accused some residents of aiding and abetting illegality in the estate by bribing PHCN field workers.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayAdvertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com