Wike Revokes FCT Lands Of Buhari, Former Chief Justices Tanko, Onnoghen, Reps Speaker Abbas, Senator Lawan, Shehu Sani, Over 750 Others

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has revoked the lands of several high-profile individuals in Abuja, including the foundation of former President Muhammadu Buhari, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Other individuals affected by this decision are former Senate President, former Chief Justices of Nigeria, former Senator Shehu Sani, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello, and several former and current governors and lawmakers.

Wike in a notice of withdrawal of rights of occupancy issued by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and obtained by PREMIUM TIMES announced the revocation of 762 plots of land owned by several prominent Nigerians and corporate entities including Methodist Church of Nigeria and companies in Maitama II area of Abuja for failing to pay for the Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) of their properties.

The notice read, “The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) wishes to inform the allottee (s)/ title holder(s )of plot(s) of land in Maitama II 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by the Honourable Minister, Federal Capital Territory that their Right of Occupancy to the land/ property have been withdrawn, pursuant to the provisions of Section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978 for contravention of the terms of grant which obligated the title/interest holders to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 Section 28 of the Land Use Act that the notice made reference to, provided in subsection (5) that state governors or the Minister of the FCT can revoke a statutory right of occupancy of a land owner on the ground of- “(a) a breach of any of the provisions which a certificate of occupancy is by section 10 of this Act deemed to contain;

“(b) a breach of any term contained in the certificate of occupancy or in any special contract made under section 8 of this Act.”

According to the provision of the Act, the non-payment of statutory fees by landowners are considered violations for which allocated plots can be revoked.

Affected properties worth millions and billions of Naira in a document obtained bY PREMIUM TIMES include the Muhammadu Buhari Trust Foundation, owned by former President Buhari; about four different plots of land owned by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe; plots of land owned by House Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen; former CJN Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad; former CJN Walter Onnoghen; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume and his wife Regina.

Others are lands owned by former Senate President, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan; former Senator Shehu Sani; the embattled former Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State; Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, 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 state. 

Also, other several current and former federal lawmakers whose lands were revoked by Wike are Abdul Ningi; Sunday Karimi; Abdulfatai Buhari; Dino Melaye; Barnabas Gemade; Adeyemi Adaramodu; Abba Moro; Danjuma La’ah, and Abdulmumin Jibrin. 

Others are Agom Jarigbe; Obinna Chidoka; Nicholas Mutu; Dan Reneiju; Ezenwa Oyewuchi; Chinyere Igwe; David Umaru; Oladipupo Olatunde Adebutu; Oluwole Oke; Oker Jev, and the the Director General of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), Lanre Gbajabiamila, amongst hundreds of others.

Wike also warned the former Presidents of the Nigerian senate, Iyorchia Ayu and Ameh Ebute, to pay their outstanding bills or lose their plots.

The minister also threatened to revoke lands owned by former and serving lawmakers including the Chief Whip of the Senate, Tahir Monguno; former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche; former Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin; Nnenna Ukeje; Obinna Chidoka; Dapo Lam-Adesina; Leo Ogor; Francis Alimkhena; Smart Adeyemi and Lynda Ikpeazu.

Others are Andy Uba; Biodun Olujimi; Agom Jarigbe; Kingsley Chinda; Ben Obi; former Governor of Ebonyi State, Sam Egwu; former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah and the incumbent Deputy Governor of Edo State, Dennis Idahosa.