ABUJA, Federal Republic of Nigeria. Acting on a Mobile Court order, the Department of Development Control, Abuja Municipal Management Council, last Saturday sealed off 36 out of 41 premises in Asokoro for failing to repaint their houses and perimeter fences.
The court summoned 41 residents of Churchill St., Omar Bongo Close, Daniel Arap Moi Close, Paul Biya Close, and Queen Elizabeth St., all in Asokoro, but only five of them appeared in court.
Folashade Oyekan, presiding judge of the Mobile Court, also ordered that the five defaulters who were present in court, be given a two-week grace to redecorate their premises or risk being sealed-off.
“However, for those who refused to appear in court, even when it is sitting in their neighbourhood, I order that their premises be sealed-off until they comply with the redecoration notice.”
The prosecutor, Arome Tokula, told the court that the accused persons failed to comply with an order of the department, instructing them to repaint their dilapidated houses. He said that the offence contravened Section 35 of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) Act of 1997.
“The accused persons were summoned to this court for failure, refusal and neglect to paint their premises even after redecoration order was issued to them. The offence contravenes section 35 of the AEPB Act,” Arome said.
After the court session, head of Aesthetics and Amenities, Department of Development Control, Dominic Odenigbo, advised Abuja residents to always comply with directives of the department, as the desire of the government was to ensure Abuja remained a decent city.
Credit: Daily Independent (Nigeria)
