By Abiola Olawale
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has ordered the revocation of 762 plots of land in Abuja.
These plots were said to belong to some prominent individuals, including former President Muhammadu Buhari, former Chief Justice of Nigeria Walter Onnoghen, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, among others.
Others are former Governors Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, Ben Ayade of Cross River, Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa, Shaaba Lafiagi of Kwara, Ahmad Sani of Zamfara and Kabiru Gaya of Kano.
Former and serving federal lawmakers affected are Enyinnaya Abaribe, Abdul Ningi, Sunday Karimi, Abdulfatai Buhari, Dino Melaye, Barnabas Gemade, Shehu Sani, Adeyemi Adaramodu, Abba Moro, Danjuma La’ah and Abdulmumin Jibrin.
Agom Jarigbe, Obinna Chidoka, Nicholas Mutu, Dan Reneiju, Ezenwa Oyewuchi, Chinyere Igwe, David Umaru, Oluwole Oke and Oker Jev.
The Minister explained that the revocation was due to the failure of these individuals and corporate organizations to pay for the Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) of the properties.
Additionally, Wike issued a two-week ultimatum to settle outstanding payments for Rights of Occupancy (R-of-O), threatening that there will be further revocations after the ultimatum expires.
The plots are located in the high-brow Maitama 1 District of the federal capital.
The order was also contained in a notice issued by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
The notice said: “The Federal Capital Territory Administration wishes to inform the allottee (s)/title holder (s) of plots of land in Maitama 1 who have failed to make payment for their Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) bills after the expiration of grace period granted by the Honourable Minister, Federal Capital Territory that their Right of Occupancy to the land/property has been withdrawn, under the provisions of Section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978 for contravention of the terms of grant which obligated the title/interest holders to settle all bills.
“The Federal Capital Territory Administration hereby informs the general public, particularly allotee (s)/title holder (s) of land in the Maitama 1 District of the FCT who have since made payment of their outstanding Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) bills to as a matter of urgency pay the balance of their bills within two weeks from the date of this publication or have their Rights of Occupancy (R-of-O) titles withdrawn.”
