Homeowners, firms bicker over estate management

• Allegations are false, borne out of envy, say firms

Some property owners at Atlantis Estate, Ikate, Lekki, in Lagos, are at loggerheads with the developer of the estate over allegations of poor service provision and exclusion in the management of the estate.

They alleged that the developer of the 18-unit estate, Messrs Carter Tech Limited, with Samson Nnadi and Jeremiah Erondu as directors, have personalised the affairs of the estate.

According to the property owners, attempts to challenge the estate managers have resulted in harassment and intimidation.

One of the homeowners, Mr. Adebowale Ajayi, expressed dismay over the poor handling of the estate and uncivilised way in which homeowners are treated in terms of service provisions.

Ajayi, who took possession of his property in 2018, explained that owners are subjected to a myriad of service delivery issues. He said that the two directors of the estate company, who reside in the estate, are using a sister company (Prime Facility Limited) as facilities managers.

Ajayi said: “I enquired from fellow residents about Service Level Agreement (SLA) and a contract between the residents and the facilities management company but no one seemed to have an answer.

However, they hinted that both Carter Tech Limited and PFL have common directors, which has been causing conflicts of interest in the estate.

“I approached Nnadi and Erondu on ways to resolve issues within the estate, ranging from their non-payment for services, utilities and energy consumed by them because they are residents as well, incessant unilateral increment in the unit cost of energy, seizure and free use of estate resources, including non-rendering of the estate’s account for three years.

“Others are incessant potable water discolouration, changing of staff and security guards without prior information to residents.

“The directors agreed to a financial audit of the affairs of the estate between 2018 and 2020 by an independent audit company, Goshen Associates. The audit revealed gross mismanagement, incompetence and conflicts of interest.

“However, some estates being run transparently have separated national grid from diesel generating sets. While residents were asking for transparency and accountability from PFL, suddenly, Carter Tech Ltd came out with a legal assertion that they own the estate and beneficial owner of every service charge paid by the residents and not under any obligation to render account.

“Their non-rendering of account to both the residents and the Federal Inland Revenue Service has allegedly exposed the estate to tax evasion issues.” He alleged that the company amended the Atlantis Estate residents’ handbook, which forms part of the legal deed of assignment executed by the Assignor (Henrose Motors Ltd) without the knowledge of Henrose Motors Ltd.

Corroborating Ajayi’s claims, another homeowner, Mr. Bobo Nwandu, said: “The directors have made life so unbearable for everyone because of their oppressive nature. If you have any issue with them, they harass you with the police. They say you are jealous of their success by claiming your right as a landlord in the estate,” Nwandu said.

MEANWHILE, in their joint reactions to the allegations, Nnadi and Erondu said the allegations are borne out of envy from residents.

They said: “Ajayi’s action is borne out of envy because he boasted to people that he is ready to pull us down because we are too proud and we don’t listen to people. Right from the onset, we never told him we were directors to just one company and no law in Nigeria says you cannot be directors in more than one company.

“The estate is run on pay you go basis. We refused to recognise the residents’ association in the estate because about six of them out of 18 apartments came together to form the association.”