Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has refuted claims of extra-judicial demolition of an Igbo man’s property in Abuja, accusing the Lands Department of conniving with land grabbers.
Amid accusations from the owner of the demolished property, Chief Nicholas Ukachukwu, who had alleged that the FCT Minister demolished his property because he is an Igbo man, Wike clarified that the disputed land lacked ministerial approval and condemned fraudulent practices within the FCT.
“I have been doing this before. I will continue to do it. And nothing will happen. Criminals are criminals. They may come in different ways.
“I have never seen people like land-grabbing people in this place. I came in, and I met so many petitions. One company came with different petitions, with different owners of properties. I summoned all of them. They came with their lawyers and senior advocates.
“And I said, Look, what is this? Companies presented their own cases. Company A presented their own case; company B presented their own; company C; company D; and company E. I said, Okay, I’m going to seek advice from external solicitors. I’m not going to take advice from insiders, because the biggest fraud is that the Land Department has been compromised. I sought the views of senior lawyers and told them we needed to do things differently.
“This land, which this so-called ethnic jingoist talked about, was allocated when there was no minister. The minister left on May 29, 2023. By June, the land had been allocated by the director of lands.
“We all met and agreed that nobody should do anything on the land until we are able to make a final decision. You know what happened? These guys thought they were too smart, and they started selling the land.”
Meanwhile, FCTA conducted a demolition exercise to reclaim land in Gosa District, collaborating with EFCC and ICPC to tackle illegal land grabbing.
Director Mukhtar Galadima stated the importance of eradicating such practices and urges buyers to verify land allocations with relevant government agencies.
CEO Hamza Adamu confirmed legitimate allocation for mixed-use development, pledging infrastructure and security measures.
