FCT: Reps Investigate Fraudulent Land Allocations Prior to Wike’s Appointment

The House of Representatives resolved to probe fraudulent land allocation titles in Abuja before the appointment of the Minister of Federal Capital Terrritory, FCT.

The House, therefore, mandated its Committee on FCT to investigate and report back within four weeks, for further legislative action.

The resolution of the House followed the adoption of a motion moved at the plenary on Thursday by Jonathan Gbefwi.

Moving the motion, Gbefwi said by virtue of Section 297 of the Constitution, the ownership of all lands in the FCT is vested in the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He added that Section 302 of the Constitution provides inter alia, that the President may, in the exercise of the powers conferred upon him by Section 147 of the Constitution, appoint for the FCT, Abuja, a Minister who shall exercise powers and perform such functions as may be delegated to him by the President, from time to time.

Gbefwi recalled that President Bola Tinubu was sworn in on Monday 29th May 2023, marking the start of the four-year term as President and Kashim Shettima as Vice president

The lawmaker added that Wike assumed office as the FCT Minister on the 21st of August 2023.

He lamented that several land title documents were fraudulently allocated while the FCT Minister position was vacant.

Gbefwi wondered if the Director of Lands or any official of the FCDA, who issued R of O’s, purportedly in the name of the Minister of FCT, at the period when the office of the Minister was vacant, have the legal right or authority to do so.

He lamented that some of the lands affected were subject to litigation which were yet to be resolved.

The lawmaker expressed worry that some of the beneficiaries of these alleged fraudulent allocations are already using them to forcibly grab disputed land which is a recipe for conflicts.

He said if the title document of any land was fraudulently issued or procured, whatever is built on it should not stand in the interest of the public.