Minister of Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has revoked lands belonging to former President, Muhammed Buhari; former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen; Speaker House of Reps, Tajudeen Abbas; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and his wife, Regina Akume; and Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani..
759 other prominent figures and organisations in Maitama II, Abuja were also affected by the revocation which was for non-payment of fees for Certificate of Occupancy (C of O).
This was contained in a publication by the FCT Administration and made available to newsmen by the Special Adviser to the FCT Minister, Lere Olayinka.
“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payment for their Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) bills that their Right of Occupancy to the land/property has been withdrawn.
“This action was taken under Section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978, which empowers the minister to revoke rights of occupancy for non-compliance with payment obligations or breach of other allocation terms.”
In a separate publication, the Minister also threatened to revoke lands belonging to the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda; former presidents of the Senate, Iyorchia Ayu and Ameh Ebute; the Chief Whip of the Senate, Tahir Monguno; and 610 others for outstanding fees owed to the FCTA for certificate of occupancy not paid within two weeks.
This revocation by the Minister comes months after he made several pleas to residents of the FCT, particularly those residing in hybrid areas of the nation’s capital, to pay outstanding fees owed to the FCTA or risk revocation of their lands.