The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Hon. Mohammad Musa Bello has directed that all recreational parks and gardens in Abuja close by 7 pm.
It was also gathered that the Minister further directed that no garden or park in the capital city should sell alcohol henceforth.
The Minister’s decision is believed to have resulted from rampant cases of acts of criminality perpetrated in some of the parks and gardens.
Meanwhile, parks and garden owners wouldn’t have any of such as they have written to him reminding him of the pendency of a suit they filed against him.
They called on the Minister to uphold the rule of law, call his aides to order and stop the enforcement of the closure of parks and gardens by 7 pm in the Federal Capital Territory.
In a letter written through their lawyer, Ifeanyi Remy Agu the group stated, “Re Suit No: CV/408/2008: Barrister (Mrs) Amanda Pam (Proprietor Suez Garden) & 60 Others -Plaintiffs Vs Hon Minister FCT Defendant. Enforcement of 6 pm closing hour by FCTA-Action Sub-Judice,” he stated “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 6 pm 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 have 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 offices to call the SSA to order more especially as the case is before a court of law and the parties have agreed in principle.
“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 6 pm.”