Land Owner Demands N30m Compensation From Telecoms Coy

An Ikorodu land owner, Mr. Mojeed Olawale Adejayi, has dragged an engineering company, Vixen Enterprises Limited, before an Ikorodu High Court, demanding N30 million compensation.

Odejayi, in his statement of claim, said the amount is for refilling of his land damaged by the engineering after it removed its telecommunication equipment from it.

He averred that the engineering company entered into a lease agreement and an addendum with him on 1 May, 2003, when it was agreed that it would lease 144 square metres of his land for the purpose of installing telecommunication infrastructure which include mast/tower, base transceiver station, equipment shelter and generator set at an amount agreed upon.

He averred furtherthat the claim was as a result of the delay in payment, defective excavation of the land, preventing him from renting it out to another interested communication company.

However, the company, in its statement of defence, admitted that it indeed entered into a lease agreement and addendum with the land owner, but denied refusing to stamp-duty such agreement as claimed.

The company averred that it is not liable to pay any compensation to the land owner on the ground that the demand lacked basis.

It also accused the land owner of preventing the contractors from finishing their job, rather, it

claimed that the land owner should pay for the substantial loss of revenue and locking out its workers and contractors.

Justice A.O. Olayinka has adjourned till 23 November, 2011 for the defendant to present its defence.

—Paul Sanusi