In 2022, Dubai-based Nigerian Tochukwu Ariwodo purchased a plot of land from PWAN prestige affiliate real estate agency through his mother, Veronica Ariwodo.
Tochukwu had heard about the affiliate company from Emmanuel Amaefule, one of their marketing agents who was his in-law.
From the terms and conditions the company sent to Tochukwu about the land’s details, all necessary documents will be ready, and from what Tochukwu told FIJ, he paid N4.4 million, an amount covering the land fee, survey fee, corner demarcation and deed of assignment.
Despite this, more than three years after the purchase, PWAN is still yet to deliver the deed of assignment and letter of allocation.
Receipt of payment for the land at free trade zone, Ibeju-Lekki
Tochukwu told FIJ that while the physical allocation had been done, he is still yet to get the deed of assignment, survey plan and original allocation letter. According to him, the physical allocation was dubious, as the land that was shown to them before purchase was different from the one that was physically allocated.
“According to my in-law, the land looks funny. The land they allocated was different from the one they showed my mom,” he said.
“Although it was the same site, it was very far, deep down. It was like the outskirts of the land previously shown to them before the payment was made.”
Tochukwu sent numerous emails requesting the land’s letter of assignment but they yielded no result.
He informed FIJ that during his visit to the former assistant managing director, Mrs. Joan, in May 2023, he was informed that the current value of the land was N9.5 million. During this meeting, Tochukwu was again reassured he would soon receive his letter of allocation.
“At a point, they told me that we should start erecting our structure on the land, without complete conveyance, or transfer of necessary documents but I rejected the idea,” Tochukwu said.
“Currently, this year, I asked my in-law to ask again about the value of the land; he told me about N13 million.”
When Tochukwu’s persistent requests for documentation were not granted, he demanded a refund through an email but the message was not acknowledged.
“When my in-law called them, the M.D said that I had signed the terms and condition which states that refund can be made within 90 days and be extended by some days, and that 40 per cent of the whole amount paid would be deducted from the total amount. That was what the MD told my in-law,” he said.
The refund policy between Tochukwu and PWAN
“I became mad when I heard it because why will they deduct 40% when it was their own company who defaulted, who prolonged the transfer of the land for two years?.”
“If PWAN insists that they shall deduct that 40%, then they should pay me back the N13 million, then they can deduct their 40% from it.”
FIJ messaged Stella James, the managing director of PWAN Prestige, on WhatsApp, she read it without replying.
Source: FIJ
