‘…you’re a small boy with no address oitside politics’
A billionaire business mogul, Chief Linus Ukachukwu, has expressed his defiance towards the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, alleging that Wike, lacking a presence beyond politics, cannot intimidate him following the recent demolition of his property in Abuja.
Ukachukwu, visibly upset, challenged Wike’s intentions in undermining his contributions to Abuja’s development, citing his recognition in 2003 for his pioneering efforts in the city’s property development sector.
Speaking during an interview on television on Wednesday, Ukachukwu accused Wike and Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, a former FCT minister, of colluding with Lebanese developers to seize his land.
BoldNews reports that Ukachukwu’s outburst came in response to a media chat on Tuesday, during which Wike accused the Ukachukwu brothers of exploiting the system to obtain favourable judgments for their own benefit, disregarding the public interest.
Ukachukwu said: “As far back as 2003, I had a national honour as a result of what I had been doing in the housing sector in Abuja. In 2005 my brother had a similar honour.
“How can you call Linus Ukachukwu and Nichoas Ukachukwu land grabbers? We need a serious apology from Wike. Where was Wike in 2003 when a national honour was given to me as a result of developing Abuja? Where was he? Is it because of these fake opportunities that they have in the country that lead them to come on television and start harassing the citizens? When you talk of integrity we never go into shady deals,” he said.
As per how he got the land, Ukachukwu explained: “This land was given in the nineties. I gave the documents showing the ministerial approval to AIT. Along the way because of the size of the land, El-Rufai came in and intimidated the first person (allotee) that they gave that land and did all manners of things to try to take that land from him. At the end of the day, they went to EFCC, went to court and the court discharged the guy and said that there is no forgery on the document. They went to court of Appeal, EFCC lost and they gave up and gave the Certificate of Clearance to the initial person that the land was allocated to.
“That was when we now came in and acquired some of the property and discovered that while the matter was still in the court, that El-Rufai went and gave part of the plot to Sunrise without even revoking our rights. So, you can see the impunity. Some of these leaders you need to stop listening to them because they are just bunches of liars.
“He took part of the land and gave it to Sunrise, (Lebanese) without revoking our title.”
According to Ukachukwu, the former FCT Minister, Mohammed Musa Bello, set up a committee to address the dispute. The committee reportedly discovered that the original title held by the Ukachukwu brothers remained legitimate.
He noted that the previous administration suggested they should surrender the portion of land already developed by Sunrise and focus on developing the remaining area.
He added that contrary to Wike’s claim, the land dispute had been settled in his favour approximately seven months prior to the end of the previous administration.
Highlighting Wike’s involvement, Linus Ukachukwu said: “Along the way, these Lebanese went to Wike and called for a meeting. My brother went for the meeting and in that meeting, Wike started intimidation, he didn’t even want my brother to talk, but Ukachukwus cannot be intimidated because Wike does not have address even to intimidate anybody.
“If he can intimidate, it is not me because I made my money through the grace of God and sweat. I never stole and I never worked for any government. In that meeting, he didn’t even want my brother to talk until my brother raised his voice and said you cannot bring me for a meeting and tell me that I cannot talk and that only my lawyer can talk.”