As the demolition and revocation of illegal properties in Abuja by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike stirs controversy and condemnation, the Minister insists that he would not back down, but accuses Paulosa Nigeria Limited of land grabbing offences
By Udoka Ekeleme, Abuja
A rights activist and business tycoon, Rita Lori-Ogbebor is accusing the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike of forcefully dispossessing her and her family of their housing estate which is located in a strategic part of the FCT. She is claiming that the said estate which is located in the Life Camp area of the FCT belongs to Paulosa Nigeria Limited, a company which is owned by her late husband, Col Paul Ogbebor (rtd), a civil war hero and a first generation officer of the Nigerian Army.
Lori Ogbebor, a notable Niger Delta activist and member of the Olu of Warri Council, raised concerns over the actions of Wike, against her and her family. She called for a thorough investigation into Wike’s involvement in the land dispute surrounding her late husband’s estate in Abuja. The property, a 42-year-old estate developed by her husband, late Col. Ogbebor, has become the center of a dispute with the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), which is threatening demolition.
The estate, valued at N3.5 billion, has been a significant part of the Ogbebor family legacy for decades. Late Col. Ogbebor, a soldier, was allocated the land during the early development of Nigeria’s capital, a common practice for contributors to national projects at the time. Over the years, the family faced multiple bureaucratic challenges, including revalidating land certificates and paying substantial fees for official processes. Ogbebor’s children paid N10 million to regularize the land’s status, but the effort was undermined by the declaration of the property as “illegal” and “dilapidated” under Wike’s directive.
Lori-Ogbebor claim that the estate was neither abandoned nor deteriorated, as alleged, pointing to its current use as a residential area for various occupants, including expatriates. She contended that such claims did not align with the estate’s status, given its vibrant community and significant historical value. For her, the property represents her late husband’s sole legacy and contribution to the development of the nation, making the threat of demolition a severe injustice.
The activist has called for an independent judicial investigation to clarify whether her late husband’s acquisition and development of the land were in any way improper or illegal. She insists that the family’s efforts to comply with government regulations over the years demonstrate their commitment to preserving the property’s legitimacy. For her, the demolition threat undermines not just her family’s legacy but also the principle of honoring national contributors.
The controversy has prompted Ogbebor to urge Nigerians to scrutinize Wike’s role in the matter. She believes his actions reflect a broader issue of disrespect toward individuals who have made significant sacrifices for the country’s development. This, she says, highlights the need for accountability and transparency in public office, especially when historical assets are at stake.
She called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ensure a fair resolution to the dispute.
Wike on his part has vowed to stop anybody from taking land belonging to the territory without approval.
Wike stated this while handing over 50 operational vehicles to security agencies in the FCT, in Abuja on Thursday, December 12, 2024.
The minister, who decried the activities of land grabbers in the territory, said: “We will stop anybody who thinks he can obtain government land for whatever reason without formal approval.
“We will not look at your face. If you like, you can be a civil rights activist; If you like, you can be a television talker. What is wrong is wrong. No amount of blackmail can stop us”.
Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to Wike, has also defended the FCTA’s move to reclaim the property from Paulosa Nigeria Limited.
He explained that a construction company, Paulosa Nigeria Ltd occupied the land as a temporary office, under a temporary R of O granted in 1984, about 40 years ago.
Olayinka had challenged those circulating the falsehood about their lands being grabbed by the FCTA to provide Right of Occupancy (R of O) or Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) granted by the FCTA.
Sharing this view, the Minister said that if the government gave a construction company a temporary site, the land does not automatically belong to the company after executing the project.
“Show me the document that the land belongs to you.
“I am not the kind of person that you will scare by going on television, claiming that you have been living there for 20 years. So what? You are just a squatter.
“If your husband had a company who did a job for FCT and had a site to stay, that doesn’t make it your husband’s property; it doesn’t,” Wike said.
The minister said that he had published names of landowners in Abuja that were owing FCTA ground rent and other taxes.
Wike added that he would revoke the land of anybody that refuses to pay.
“All those who have not paid, who thought we are joking, I am going to revoke all. So, if you are sitting here, go and check your records.
“If you have not paid, I will give you time to pay. But once the time expires, forget it, I will revoke it, and I will give it to those who will pay,” Wike said.
Paulosa Nigeria Limited had on Nov.18, 2020, applied for the conversion of the temporary to statutory R of O, which was granted in February 2023 but subject to fulfilling certain terms and conditions including the payment of a cumulative N67 million.
However, 20 months later, the company did not comply with the terms and conditions for the approval and on Oct. 10, 2024, the approval was revoked.
Meanwhile, the widow of late Col. Ogbebor, has stated that she prefers to die than beg President Bola Tinubu or Wike over the land dispute in Abuja.
Mrs Ogbebor made the declaration on Friday, December 13 during a press conference in Abuja, during which she spoke about the demolition notice issued to the residents and management of Paullosa Nigeria Limited, an estate management company owned by her late husband.
She alleged that Wike was only fourteen years old when her husband brought people to work on the land and contributed his quota to the development of Abuja.
According to her, 42 years after, the FCT Minister now wants to take the land, demolish it and give it to someone named Chinda.
The wife of the late military man said those who know her can appeal to Tinubu on her behalf, but added that she would rather die than make a personal appeal to Tinubu or Wike over the land dispute.
“I am not saying the President should know me, but the people, the leaders, who surround and advise the President should know people like us, who oil the wheel of progress in this country. And when there is a problem like this, they should intervene, and if it is above them, they should take it to the president.
“My husband was one of those who built Abuja; they gave him a piece of land to work as an engineer. He brought people from all over the world to work with him. Now, after 42 years, they want to demolish it and give it to Chinda? Who is Chinda?
“If you take Chinda’s age today and the period we have been here, Chinda was only 14 years old. And so is Wike. Is that not belittling of me at the age of 84, to go and meet the president, ‘Mr. President, someone in my country is demolishing my house? No. I would rather die,” she said.
