*May protest ban in FCT headquarters, National Assembly
Following plans by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Bello Mohammed to gradually Islamaise Abuja through a gradual storage of the sale of alcoholic beverages in parks and gardens, owners have written the Minister reminding him of the pendency of a subsisting suit in court.
This is as they called on the Minister to uphold the rule of law and call his aides to order and stop them from the enforcement of the closure of parks and gardens by 7pm in the Federal Capital Territory.
In a letter written through their lawyer Ifeanyi Remy Agu the group cited Suit No: CV/408/2008: Barrister (Mrs) Amanda Pam (Proprietor Suez Garden) & 60 Others -Plaintiffs Vs Hon Minister FCT Defendant.
They noted that the enforcement of 6pm Closing Hour by FCTA-Action is sub-Judice.
The letter read in part; “as solicitors to the plaintiffs in the above stated suit pending before the FCT High Court, we draw your attention to the threatened enforcement of 6pm closing hour by proprietor of gardens in the FCT by your Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Monitoring and Enforcement, Comrade Ikharo Attah which action is sub-Judice of the pending case before the court.
“Suffice it to say that we live in a Democratic society where rule of law prevails against personal desires and brigandage of public servants. The terms of settlements in the above matter has been ordered to be filed by the Honorable court after the parties agreed in terms and principles” he added.
Agu noted that “our clients received with the greatest shock the threatened enforcement by the SSA against the claimants. Sir as a Minister in the temple of Justice, we appeal to you to use your good office to call the SSA to order more especially as the case is before a court of law and the parties have agreed in principles.
“That there was an issue of criminality in one of the gardens does not mean there will be criminality in all other gardens to warrant the enforcement of the regulation of closing by 6pm” he added.
Meanwhile, NewsdeskAfrica gathered that the Garden and Park owners are planning to stage a protest at the entrance gate of the Federal Capital Territory headquarters and at the National Assembly Tuesday.
A source told our reporters that “we don’t understand the rationale behind the continued harassment of park and garden operators by the FCT administration inspite of our huge investments in the security and beautification of the FCT.
“Recall that since we took over all the dangerous and dark corners in the metropolis and turned them to beautiful relaxation points, hoodlum and undesirables no longer have hiding place at such hitherto dangerous places.
“If they claim crime was committed in some parks, what about hotels where ritualists have killed people, what about motor parks where we all know hardened criminals operate and they sell all kinds of hard drugs and weapons?
“Even with all the huge investments we made to fight off erosion ravaging the environment in most gardens, why are they always after us?
“I suspect it is the Civil Servants who missadvise the minister for selfish interests: either to take over the parks we had developed through the back door or they want us to be bribing us, but we will never succumb to their blackmail,” he said.
