...'there is no going back', Wike insists on Demolition

Demolitions of property in Abuja have continued to generate ripples, with victims saying the exercise is compounding their suffering, the Daily Trust newspaper has reported. 

This is even as the FCT Administration has confirmed that over 20,432 structures were pulled down in 2024.

The Director of the Department of Development Control, Tpl. Mukhtar Usman Galadima, who made this known at an award night for staff, said the action was taken to sustain the integrity of the Abuja Master Plan. 

But many victims of the exercise have described the action as not only “Ill-timed but wicked”.

Reports have it that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has prioritised revenue generation through land administration, with specific focus on payments from ground rents and Certificate of Occupancy (C of O).

Wike, since inception, has spent millions of naira on newspaper publication on the title owners, who have allegedly failed to pay for either ground rents or the C of O.

His administration has revoked land titles and demolished many structures it said were illegally built and those whose owners failed to develop within the stipulated period or did not have necessary documents.

There were outcries two months ago when the FCT Administration demolished 50 duplexes and bungalows at Sabon Lugbe. Mukhtar Galadima, Director, Department of Development Control, said the structures were illegally erected by land grabbers without approval of appropriate authorities.

But Home Builders Association of Nigeria (HBAN), property developers and part-owners of property in Sabon Lugbe accused the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) of deliberately wanting to confiscate their land and redesigning the area.

The chairman of the association, Engr Isaac Omolua, alleged that FCDA and its agents had been subjecting them to intimidation and fear by vandalising the property of his members.

A resident, Azuka Biose, alleged that the FCTA did the same with Centenary City as the authorities said it was for public overriding interest.

“At the end of the day, we learned it wasn’t for public overriding interest. It’s owned by one person. For 14 years now, we’ve not been given our property or anything to show. Every day, they have been doing layout for us; but we have not seen anyone.

“But if it’s something that concerns them, it won’t take a month, the layout would come out.”

He also said that no prior notification was given to them by the FCTA and that over 20 structures had been pulled down.

 “The painful aspect is that they call developers land grabbers, while they are the land grabbers,’’ he said.

The wife of the Late Col. Paul Ogbebor, Rita, recently cried out over the revocation of a land at the Life camp area of Abuja, which she said belongs to her husband. But Wike had challenged her to show evidence of ownership. 

The displaced occupants of the recently demolished Ruga settlement, said the action of the FCT Administration lacked human feelings.

 Some of the residents, who spoke with our reporter, said life has become more difficult for them since the demolition exercise.

Mr Nuaziru Alkali said the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, promised to dialogue with their representative when he visited the site but regretted that nothing was done since then.

 It would be recalled that the affected residents recently took to the streets, demanding that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, be held accountable for the destruction of their community.

The protesters, led by lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, accused Wike’s task force, known as “Operation Sweep,” of heavy-handed tactics that have left scores of residents homeless.

 Reports have it that the FCT Department of Development Control Tuesday halted what it called ongoing illegal developments at Apo Zone E, Gudu District.

The Director of the department, Mukhtar Galadima, said allowing unapproved structures to be springing up in the city would lead to erosion that will result in flooding.

Soldiers seize FCTA staff, vehicles during demolition in Lugbe

There were reports yesterday that two Hilux vehicles belonging to the FCT Development Control Department were seized during an attempt to demolish some structures at Lugbe.

The soldiers reportedly drove the two vehicles to a general’s house in the area, leaving one deflated. some staff were said to have been held hostage by the soldiers. 

When contacted yesterday,  the Director of the department, Mukhtar Galadima, said he had not been briefed on the incident.

Natives threaten to invoke ancestors’ power on erring FCTA officials. 

Natives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have threatened to mobilise residents and invoke the power of their ancestors on any official of the FCT Administration abusing his or her powers.

Community leaders and natives recently expressed concerns over the unchecked power being wielded by the FCT ministers, whom they describe as “gods in disguise.”

They spoke after a meeting recently organised by several stakeholders including youth groups, women associations, and grassroots organisations convened to voice their grievances.

One of the major stakeholders, who spoke on behalf of the natives, Elder Danjuma Tanko Dara, said the existing governance framework in the FCT lacks democratic representation, which undermines the principles of accountability and transparency.

Demolitions should have adequate notices, compensation – Lawyer

A lawyer said although the FCT minister has powers over lands and the territory but must exercise the powers with a human face and in accordance with the law.

In his view, Obioma Ezenwobodo, Esq said Section 297 of the Nigerian Constitution vests ownership of all lands comprising the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, there is also the right to privacy of property in the constitution.

He said where the government wants to acquire land, such as in a developed city like the FCT, it must be for overriding public interest and nothing more.

  “Therefore, where a citizen has his land papers intact, he cannot or rather should not be dispossessed of his land except for overriding public interest. Even at that, strict legal procedures comprising of giving him adequate notice and compensating him must be followed,” he said.

“Even illegal squatters, though do not have legitimate titles, should be protected by the government or at best be provided a more conducive place to stay. The world has moved far away from the manner of forced evictions being witnessed presently. The country belongs to all of us.”

No going back on demolitions-Wike

The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has vowed to continue demolishing properties in the nation’s capital despite pressure including the recent order by the Senate on the minister to halt the demolition.

Speaking during the distribution of operational vehicles to security agencies at the FCTA secretariat on Thursday, Wike said the structures being demolished by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) are properties illegally built on government lands.

“Let me use this opportunity to tell Nigerians and residents of Abuja, we are not afraid of blackmail. In fact, you cannot be in this kind of position and say you cannot be blackmailed, particularly as regards this Abuja. There are so many land grabbers. Some of us have come to put our feet down. Let heaven fall. It is even better that heaven comes down now so that we would not be fasting again to go to heaven.’’

Afenifere, a prominent Yoruba socio-political organization, held a world press conference yesterday to raise alarm over the abduction, detention, and violations of the constitutional rights of Dele Farotimi, a respected human rights lawyer and member of the group.

The organization decried what it called an unjust and unlawful treatment of Farotimi by the Nigerian Police and legal authorities, which it described as a significant blow to Nigeria’s democracy, free speech, and personal liberty.

Farotimi, a vocal advocate for civil rights, was arrested under contentious circumstances on December 3, 2024, when plainclothes officers reportedly stormed his office in Lagos.

Eyewitnesses recounted a chaotic scene as police officers, armed and unannounced, forced their way past staff and confiscated their phones, before taking Farotimi into custody.

Afenifere’s deputy leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, detailed the sequence of events, noting that the arrest followed an earlier invitation from the Zone 2 Police Command on November 11, which Farotimi had complied with. He had been questioned in relation to a defamation petition filed by Tony Elumelu, the chairman of UBA Group, over comments allegedly made by Farotimi.

Despite being told that he was the subject of a defamation case in Ekiti State, Farotimi’s whereabouts were initially unknown after his arrest. The Ekiti State Police Command later confirmed that they were holding him on charges of defamation and cyberstalking. However, the organization highlighted the irregularities of his detention, noting that Farotimi had been transported from Lagos to Ekiti without following proper legal protocols or informing his family or legal representatives.

Afenifere raised serious concerns about the practice of “rendering” suspects—transporting them across state lines for questioning or trial without proper legal documentation or prior notification to family members, a practice it said undermines the rule of law and often causes undue hardship for families who are left in the dark about the whereabouts of their loved ones.

On December 4, Farotimi was arraigned in Ado-Ekiti, where he faced 16 counts of criminal libel. Despite the offense being bailable, the presiding Magistrate refused to consider his bail application, insisting on a written request. The matter was adjourned until December 10 for further consideration. However, Afenifere criticized the handling of the case, pointing out that the charges were unfounded and that the legal proceedings were politically motivated.

Further compounding the situation, the Nigerian Inspector General of Police filed additional charges of cyberstalking and cyberbullying against Farotimi, which were presented in a Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti. Afenifere condemned the use of handcuffs in Farotimi’s court appearance, which it called an unnecessary act of humiliation for an individual known to be non-violent and not a flight risk.

The organization also drew attention to the failure of the court to address a critical preliminary objection raised by Farotimi’s legal team, which pointed out that the charges against him were not recognized under the laws of either Ekiti or Lagos States. Despite this, the Magistrate went ahead with the adjournment, further detaining Farotimi until the next court session on December 20.

In a stern statement, Afenifere condemned the actions of the Nigerian Police and the judiciary, accusing them of operating under extrajudicial and political pressures. The organization reiterated that Farotimi, like any accused person, should be presumed innocent until proven guilty, and his rights must be respected throughout the legal process.

“Afenifere calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Dele Farotimi.

“We demand a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding his abduction and unlawful detention. This case is not just about Farotimi; it represents a watershed moment in the ongoing struggle for justice, accountability, and the rule of law in Nigeria.”

The group also expressed concerns about the broader implications of the case for free speech and democracy in Nigeria, with many seeing it as an attempt to silence dissenting voices critical of the government and powerful figures.

As of now, Farotimi remains in custody, awaiting the next court session on December 20, 2024.