Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has revoked land titles belonging to several high-profile individuals and entities, citing non-payment of statutory fees. Among those affected are the Muhammadu Buhari Foundation, a trust associated with former President Muhammadu Buhari, former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Garba Shehu, the spokesperson for former President Buhari, clarified that the former President does not own the revoked land in question. According to Shehu, the plot was allocated to the “Muhammadu Buhari Foundation,” which was established by individuals close to Buhari with good intentions.
Shehu stated, “As with anything Buhari—and there is no surprise in this at all—there is a lot of buzz in the media on the reported seizure of a piece of land by the authorities of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, allegedly belonging to former President Muhammadu Buhari. The [former] President is personally not the owner of the said plot, which is allocated in the name of the Muhammadu Buhari Foundation.”
He further explained that the Foundation encountered significant challenges with the land department of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), including an unusually high bill for the Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O), which was disproportionate compared to fees charged to similar organizations. This obstacle, Shehu suggested, may have been a result of either a mistake or deliberate actions.
On Thursday, the FCT Administration (FCTA) issued a notice announcing the revocation of 762 plots of land in the Maitama District. The decision was based on the failure of the title holders to pay statutory fees, including costs associated with their C-of-O documents. According to the FCTA, this non-compliance led to the forfeiture of their land rights under Section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978, which empowers the Minister to withdraw such rights.
The FCTA’s notice read, “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to make payment for their Certificate of Occupancy bills that their Right of Occupancy to the land/property has been withdrawn.”
Additionally, the FCTA issued warnings to 614 individuals and companies, giving them a two-week ultimatum to clear outstanding bills or face similar revocation of their land rights.
The revoked land titles encompass a range of notable names and organizations, including:
- Muhammadu Buhari Foundation, associated with former President Muhammadu Buhari
- Former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen
- Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen
- Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and his wife, Regina Akume
- Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani
Other affected individuals include Senate Chief Whip, Tahir Monguno; former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche; former Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin; former House of Representatives member, Nnenna Ukeje; and former Senators Andy Uba and Smart Adeyemi.
The FCTA’s action underscores its commitment to enforcing compliance with statutory requirements, ensuring accountability, and maintaining transparency in land administration. The administration reiterated its stance that outstanding obligations must be settled promptly to avoid penalties, including the withdrawal of land rights.
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