‘Land was allocated without approval’ — Wike speaks on demolition of estate in Abuja

Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), says the land allocated to Praco International Limited, a real estate firm, was done without approval.

BACKGROUND

Last week, the real estate firm accused the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) of “illegal” demolition of its property in Abuja.

Chukwudubem Ezekwelu, the firm’s project manager, said the estate situated at plot 581, cadastral zone, Kugbo, with registration number FCDA/DC/BP/ASD/29163, was demolished despite “authentic and lawful title and approvals on the property”.

He said the estate developers presented a substantive court order from an FCT high court to prevent the demolition of the property, but officials of the development control department of the FCDA “rebuffed and ignored” it.

WIKE: WE TOLD THE FIRMS NOT TO DO ANYTHING ON THE LAND

Speaking with reporters on Tuesday in Abuja, Wike said there was no minister in the FCT during the period which the land was allocated to the estate developers.

The minister said he had a meeting with estate developers and instructed them to halt construction on their sites until a final decision is taken.

“They (estate developers) came with their lawyers, senior advocates, and I said look, what is this? Company A presented their own (documents), company B presented their own, company C, company D, company E,” Wike said.

“I said okay, I am going to seek for advice from external solicitors. I am not going to take from inside house because the legal secretariat and land department have been so compromised.

“So, I sought the views of very senior lawyers. Two of them wrote to me different opinions but arriving at the same thing.

“First of all, what happened? This land was allocated when there was no minister. The minister left May 29th 2023. By June, the land was allocated by the director of land.

“When we met with the companies, we told them don’t do anything again until we are able to take a final decision. Do you know what happened? These guys thinking they are too smart went on and started fencing and then allocated the land to people to buy.

“They sued me as FCT minister. I am not even aware of the suit. You know these guys… they think we are in PDP Anambra state. They have court judgements in their pockets.”