Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has ordered the revocation of 762 plots of land belonging to prominent Nigerians and corporate organizations for failing to pay for their Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) in Abuja.
Additionally, 614 individuals and companies have been given a two-week ultimatum to pay outstanding bills or risk losing their plots.
The affected plots are located in the high-brow Maitama 1 District of the federal capital. Those whose C-of-O were revoked include:
Former President Muhammadu Buhari’s Muhammadu Buhari Trust Foundation
Former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen, Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) George Akume and his wife Regina, Former Governors Rochas Okorocha, Ben Ayade, Seriake Dickson, Shaaba Lafiagi, Ahmad Sani, and Kabiru Gaya, Former and serving federal lawmakers affected include: Enyinnaya Abaribe
Abdul Ningi
Sunday Karimi
Abdulfatai Buhari
Dino Melaye
Barnabas Gemade
Shehu Sani
Adeyemi Adaramodu
Abba Moro
Danjuma La’ah
Abdulmumin Jibrin
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) cited Section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978, which empowers the Minister of the FCT to revoke a statutory right of occupancy due to non-payment of statutory fees.
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According to the FCTA notice, “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 the grace period granted by the Honourable Minister, Federal Capital Territory that their Right of Occupancy to the land/property have been withdrawn.”
The notice further stated that the affected individuals and companies have two weeks to pay their outstanding bills or risk losing their plots.
Wike had previously stated that he would not hesitate to take tough decisions, even if it means hurting the rich, to ensure public good. “When we make the right decision, some people will be happy, and some will not. The rich will kick against some of our decisions, but anything that will help our people must be done,” he said.
This is not the first time Wike has taken action against prominent individuals and companies over land allocation issues. In September, he revoked the certificates of occupancy of 165 plots in Abuja, citing non-payment of statutory fees.