Wike revokes plots belonging to Buhari, 761 other prominent Nigerians

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has ordered the revocation of land belonging to Muhammadu Buhari Trust Foundation owned by former President Muhammadu Buhari, as well as other 761 plots of land belonging to some prominent Nigerians and corporate organisations.

Penpushing reports that the revocation was said to be the fall out of failure to pay for the Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) of the properties located in the high-brow Maitama 1 District of in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT)

The order contained in two separate public notices issued by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), also threatened withdrawal the Rights of Occupancy (R-of-O) of 614 other individuals and companies if they fail to pay outstanding bills for their plots within two weeks.

Penpushing further reports that other prominent Nigerians who were victims of Wike’s order include former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Abbas Tajudeen, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, and his wife, Regina.

The 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, as well as former and serving federal lawmakers.

Penpushing also reports that they include 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 list equally contained 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.

Penpushing reports that others threatened with revocation order are Andy Uba, Biodun Olujimi, Agom Jarigbe, Kingsley Chinda, and Ben Obi, Governor Sam Egwu (Former Ebonyi State Governor) , Stella Oduah(former Minister of Aviation) Stella Oduah and the incumbent Deputy Governor of Edo State Dennis Idahosa.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Olusade Adesola, in a notice issued on Thursday explained that the minister revoked the rights to the land because the owners failed to develop them.

Penpushing further reports that he disclosed that other owners of the controversial plots include Peter Obi (Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party) in the 2023 election, Liyel Imoke (former Governor of Cross River State,Udo Udoma (former Minister of National Planning), Ufot Ekaette(former Secretary to the Government of the Federation), Victor Oyofo (a former Edo State North Senator and Sam Nda-Isaiah(late Publisher of the Leadership newspaper).

The others were a former Supreme Court justice and Chairman of the 2005 National Conference, Niki Tobi; a former Attorney General of the Federation, Kanu Agabi; Chidinma, wife of a former Aviation Minister, Osita Chidoka; and Paul Nwabiukwu, media aide to the Director General of World Trade Congress (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

Penpushing also reports that affected corporate entities with their allocation revoked are BUA’s plot at 335 in Katampe was listed, Julius Berger Nigeria plot at 2217 in Katampe, as well as Honeywell Construction plot at 653 in Idu industrial area.

‘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 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 notice read

‘Section 28 of the Land Use Act, to which the FCTA notice referred, stipulates how landed properties vested in individuals can be revoked by authorities. Subsection Five (5) empowers state governors (the Minister of the FCT in the case of Abuja) to revoke a statutory right of occupancy 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. The non-payment of statutory fees by landowners are considered violations for which allocated plots can be revoked.

Penpushing reports that two former Presidents of the Nigerian Senate, Iyorchia Ayu and Ameh Ebute, are among those the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) asked to pay their outstanding bills or lose their plots.

“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,” the notice said.

Penpushing further reports that the Minister it is recalled on assumed office in August 2023, and thereafter, in September, announced the revocation of certificate of occupancy of 165 plots in Abuja, just as he also emphasized that Last November, he would not mind hurting the rich in the reforms he was introducing in the territory.

The Minister, a former Governor of Rivers State, also pegged the cost of obtaining a C-of-O at N5 million, with a four-month window for payment, and vowed to end multiple allocations of same plot to different people, stressing that the priority of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) was 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’, Wike emphasized

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