Lere Olayinka, spokesman for Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, has said his principal is ready to revoke the lands of anyone who acquired them illegally.
Olayinka warned that Wike would revoke the lands of his friends, wife, and enemies if they failed to regularize their land allocation within the FCT.
“He is saying that he will not deal with anyone based on friendship but on doing the right thing,” Olayinka added.
“If you have legitimate land ownership, even if you are his enemy, there will be no issue. However, you will lose the land if you don’t have legitimate ownership, even if you are his friend or wife.”
The Federal Capital Development Authority published the names of 9,532 Nigerians who owe the government for failing to regularize their land allocations within the FCT. Among those named are former President Ibrahim Babangida and former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom.
“Those whose names have been published should do what they must do. If the government revokes their allocation, they will go to TV stations and social media activists to speak for them” Olayinka said, urging everyone to regularize their ownership immediately.
The Controversial Case of The Ogbebors
One of the most controversial cases is that involving Madam Rita Lori Ogbebor, a Niger Delta activist and a member of the Olu of Warri Council, Delta State.
Madam Ogbebor had accused Wike and the FCDA of unjustly targeting her family’s estate. She argued it was legally allocated to her late husband, Col. Paul Ogbebor, in 1984. The property is said to currently worth ₦3.5 billion.
But Olayinka responded to her allegation, saying her submissions were merely “emotional” and “sentiment-driven.”
He challenged Mrs Ogbebor to present legal documents proving her husband’s company, Paulosa Construction Ltd, owned the disputed land. “I’ve not seen anywhere—where she presented any document from the government,” Olayinka said.
He stressed the importance of legal ownership: “You can only claim land has been taken from you if it belonged to you in the first instance.” He pointed out that ownership requires a Right of Occupation and a Certificate of Occupation.
I Would Rather D!e Than Beg President Tinubu, Informing Him That Wike Is Demolishing My House. – Rita Lori-Ogbebor pic.twitter.com/dWqz9VfYlj
— Sapiosexual (@Mazimum_) December 14, 2024
Olayinka claimed the Ogbebor family had chances to regularize their land ownership over the past 20 months but chose not to act.
He criticized the family’s prolonged occupation of the land without proper regularization, saying, “The only thing that would matter would be for Chief Mrs Rita Lori to come up with documents showing that the land was allocated to Paulosa Construction Company in 1984, that the land was allocated to that company to build an estate. We should have that document first. If you have been occupying land for over 40 years, you should have a certificate of occupancy. She has not presented any. And the truth is that she does not have any,” Olayinka concluded.
It is yet to be seen if the Ogbebors will provide evidence of ownership or if the government will act on its threat.
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