Kingibe to Wike: It’s Illegal to Take over People’s Properties over Ground Rent

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ireti Kingibe, has said it was illegal for properties to be seized, revoked, or sealed solely on account of failure to pay ground rent.

Reacting to the ongoing development in the capital city, the lawmaker warned FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, not to run foul of the law.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), on the authority of Wike, had revoked over 4,700 properties, whose owners were said to have failed to pay ground rent for decades.

The Administration, on Monday, began the sealing of the affected properties, including the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the Peoples Democratic Party’s secretariat, Ibro Hotels, among others, before the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who gave the defaulters a 14-day grace to settle their rents.

But reacting, Kingibe said the Land Use Act indicated that the penalty for such default is, by law, limited to a fine or surcharge, not the compulsory taking over or sealing of the property without recourse to the due process prescribed under Section 42 of the Land Use Act and other relevant provisions.

“The indiscriminate and sometimes abrupt sealing of properties, often executed without proper notice, engagement, or adherence to legal procedure, only serves to deepen the economic distress of individuals, families, and business owners already facing mounting hardship.

“These actions undermine livelihoods, erode public trust in institutions, and risk destabilizing the fragile balance of social and economic stability within the FCT.

“As the elected Senator of the Federal Capital Territory, I cannot, and will not, stand idly by while residents are subjected to enforcement practices that contravene established laws and compound their suffering.

“I am actively engaging with relevant authorities and exploring all legislative avenues to ensure that any enforcement actions taken are consistent with the rule of law, fairness, and compassion.”

The Senator noted that while the enforcement of regulations and tax obligations was necessary, such actions must be carried out within the bounds of legality, fairness, and sensitivity to the current economic realities faced by residents.