Olusegun Ariyo
For failing to pay their Certificate of Occupancy, C-of-O, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has ordered the immediate revocation of 762 plots of land owned by top politicians and corporate organizations.
The FCT Minister also issued a two-week ultimatum to 614 other individuals and companies to pay their outstanding bills for their plots or risk withdrawal of the Rights of Occupancy (R-of-O) of their properties.
The two public notices issued on Thursday by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) revealed that the plots are located in the Maitama II District of the FCT.
Muhammadu Buhari Trust Foundation owned by former President Muhammadu Buhari, 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 were all affected by the revocation order.
Others are former Governors Rochas Okorocha, Ben Ayade of Cross River, Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa, Shaaba Lafiagi of Kwara, Ahmad Sani of Zamfara and Kabiru Gaya of Kano.
Former and current 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.
Also revoked were lands belonging to Agom Jarigbe, Obinna Chidoka, Nicholas Mutu, Dan Reneiju, Ezenwa Oyewuchi, Chinyere Igwe, David Umaru, Oluwole Oke and Oker Jev.
In the announcement made on Thursday, the FCTA 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by the Honourable Minister, Federal Capital Territory that their Right of Occupancy to the land/property have been withdrawn, according to the provisions of Section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978 for contravention of the terms of grant which obligated the title/interest holders to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.”
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.
