The Commissioner of Lands has written to DFCU Bank managing director Charles Mudiwa directing him to hand over all the 48 certificate of land titles for the buildings which the bank had illegally occupied that belonged to Meera Investments owned by tycoon Sudhir Ruparelia.
In a letter dated November 8, the Commissioner of Lands told the DFCU MD to handover the titles within 7 days for rectification so as his office prepares to return them to the owner.
Baker Mugaino who issued the letter reminded DFCU that his directive follows a Court judgement that ordered DFCU to immediately vacate Sudhir’s buildings which DFCU had grabbed during the illegal takeover of Crane Bank in 2017.
The High Court- Land Division Justice Tadeo Asiimwe also ordered DFCU Bank to pay Meera Investments Shs2.4 billion in damages with 8% interest per year for trespassing on property in a ruling issued last week.
Whereas DFCU thought the buildings belonged to Crane Bank Limited (CBL), it would later emerge that CBL was renting from Meera Investments, a real estate property development firm that provides residential and commercial construction services.
“You will recall that judgment in the above captioned suit was entered in the favour of the Plaintiff, Meera Investments Limited against DFCU Bank Limited and the Office of the Commissioner Land Registration,” reads a letter sent to DFCU MD.
“In view of the self-executing nature of the orders of the Court and in order to avert possible contempt proceedings, this office proceeded and implemented the decree of the court to the extent of the orders made for its implementation, by rectifying the register and cancelling the leases as encumbrances on the Mailo and Freehold certificates of title registered in the names of Meera Investments Limited and further by cancelling all the entries on the register and white pages of DFCU Bank Limited as proprietor of the 48 leasehold properties.”
“The purpose hereof is therefore to request that, since the leasehold titles have been cancelled thereby rendering the 48 duplicate certificates of title in your possession legally inconsequential, the same should be returned to this office to avoid any possible misuse thereof. Kindly do so within Seven days from the date of receipt of this letter,” the letter further says.
“By copy of this letter, Magna Advocates, learned counsel for Meera Investments Limited, M/S KATS Advocates, learned counsel for DFCU Bank Limited and the Registrar of the High Court, Land Division are hereby notified of the action so far taken by the office in compliance with the judgement and decree of the court. Your positive and prompt response will be highly appreciated.”
