Council files complaint over Villimale’ land case
Nahula acknowledged that the agreement was torn after the mayor allegedly attempted to have the company sign a land transfer document dated six months earlier.
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The Malé City Council has submitted a complaint to the police and the Local Government Authority (LGA) concerning Villimale’ Councillor Nahula Ali.
The issue was disclosed by Malé City Mayor Adam Azim during Wednesday's council meeting, where he addressed a complaint filed by Councillor Nahula alleging that she was being pressured to sign a fraudulent land transfer agreement.
Azim stated that he has video footage showing Nahula attempting to destroy documents related to an agreement that was not included in the official land list. He instructed other councillors to share the footage in the council’s WhatsApp group.
According to Azim, the footage has already been forwarded to the police and the LGA. He added that, as the matter is under investigation, open debate on the issue could interfere with the inquiry.
Councillor Nahula, however, insisted on responding, stating she possessed audio and video recordings of the incident.
Speaking in her defence, Nahula said six of the nine Villimale’ projects had been left out of the land list released last month. She said this was highlighted at last Wednesday’s council meeting. On the following Thursday night, during heavy rain, she claimed the unlisted company Jugo Marine — awarded the Villimale’ outdoor gym project — was called to the council office to receive the land.
Nahula acknowledged that the agreement was torn after the mayor allegedly attempted to have the company sign a land transfer document dated six months earlier.
She said the document in question carried the date 1 June 2025, with signatures matching previous records. She said the owner of Jugo Marine had signed a document transferring the land and that she removed the agreement after what she described as fraudulent handling of the paperwork.
She stated that:
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The agreement was presented with the intention of marking it complete by 1 December.
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The project carried a six-month completion period; if the company had signed that night, the agreement would have ended the following Monday.
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She attended the council office at the request of the individual who signed the document.
Nahula said that if she were to be investigated, then the mayor should also be investigated, adding that responsibility should not be shifted to others.
Mayor Azim rejected all allegations and invited any staff member to come forward if they had been instructed to hand over land improperly. He stated that destroying council documents is an offence.
Council Secretary General Abdul Muhaimin Naseer said Councillor Nahula had already been informed that Jugo Marine’s name was omitted from the land list. He noted that documents show the company had been asked repeatedly to prepare the agreement and take over the land, but had not done so.
He added that even if the agreement was dated 1 June, the effective date for the land handover would begin on the day the land was actually taken over. Muhaimin stated that there was no intention to manipulate dates to complete the deal by 1 December.
He advised that the matter should not be discussed further as it is under investigation by the LGA and the police.
Mayor Azim attempted to move the session forward, but the meeting ended after Councillor Nahula raised her voice, insisting she wished to respond.
