~No it’s a lie, access road only lead to my house – Shuaibu Audu
Neighbors of the serving commissioner of environment in Adamawa state, Shuaibu Audu have accused him of blocking the only access road to their properties for selfish reasons.
The neighbors who decry the commissioner’s attitude of shunning various moves for amicable resolution of the issue said the more they push for resolution, the more Audu becomes hostile in his resolve to block the road using his position and influence in Fintiri’s administration.
The property in question is situated along Ahmadu Bello Way in Jimeta, Yola North local government of Adamawa State.
Documents seen by this paper showed that in their bid to ensure the commissioner respect their rights of way to their properties, the neighbors, Salihu M. Yahaya and Hajiya Aisha Nuhu Diwa on April 15, 2023 forwarded an SOS to the commissioner of land and survey in Adamawa detailing their concerns.
In the letter, the duo complaint that they have made various rapprochement moves to ensure that Shuaibu Audu respects their rights to no avail as he remained evasive insisting that the said access road is part of his property.
Sequel to their letter to the commissioner of land and survey, the neighbors have also escalated similar concerns to the authorities of Adamawa State Urban Planning and Development Authority Yola for intervention. The authority according to them issued a stop work order.
A letter addressed to the general manager of the authority by Salihu Yahaya alleged that the commissioner is on the verge of converting the only access road meant for the neighborhood for personal and selfish desires.
“As a result of the complaint, the authority on 16 March 2023 issued a stop work order on Shuaibu Audu in line with the provisions of section 52 and 53 (1-2) of Adamawa State urban and regional planning laws ADS Law No 3 of 2010.
“But despite the stop work order, the commissioner has gone ahead with the development on the land against the law,” the complainants told our reporter.
But responding to enquiries via phone call, Shuaibu Audu denied any wrong noting that the access road only leads to his house as stipulated in the certificate of occupancy of the property issued to him.
“There is no access road between my house and the two properties. My two neighbors got their houses on owner occupier bases my plot of land is an infill between the two houses. So I’m the only one having that access road by the description of my certificate of occupancy,” he said.
Audu noted that he has stayed in the said property for 15 years but decided to erect a gate by the side of the main road over security concerns.
“I have stayed in that property for 15 years but I decided to extend the gate near Ahmadu Bello Way because of security concerns.
“Before I did that I sought for permit from urban planning who gave me the go ahead to extend the gate close to Ahmadu Bello Way,” he added.
He noted that in the wake of the complaints made by his neighbors, he also officially wrote urban planning authority stating his side of the story and urged them to come and determine who is right between him and his neighbors adding that the authority is yet to do that as at the time of the interview.
“When my neighbors came up with their complaints, I officially wrote urban planning to come and define whether my neighbors have access road or not but up till now they have not done that. But if finally they decided the issue against me I will comply with their verdict as a law abiding citizen,” he added.
When reminded that urban planning has issued a stop work order as presented by the complainants who accused him of sidestepping the order, the commissioner said so far he has not received any stop work order by urban planning insisting that what he has at hand is the permit to extend the gate close to Ahmadu Bello Way.
Audu accused his neighbors of fomenting unnecessary trouble and even threatening his life adding that if they insist on their threats he would have no option order than to seek for legal redress.
“My neighbors are just looking for my trouble but I have exercised a lot of restraint. But instead of them to reason, they are even issuing threats to me. If the situation persists I would have no alternative order than to take them to court,” he said.
