Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has cautioned the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to adhere to legal procedures in his ongoing campaign to recover ground rent from defaulters in Abuja.
Wike recently published details of 9,000 debtors in newspapers and warned that their buildings could be sealed if they failed to settle their outstanding ground rents. The FCT Administration had earlier announced plans to take possession of approximately 5,000 properties whose owners have defaulted on ground rent payments for periods ranging from 10 to 43 years.
The administration has already begun sealing buildings and taking over properties of debtors, including that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). However, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu intervened in the matter, resulting in a 14-day extension of the grace period for defaulters, which expired on Friday, June 6, 2025.
Legal Process Must Be Followed
Speaking on Channels TV, Falana emphasized the importance of following due process: "The rule of law must be allowed to operate. Yes, people are owing. Too bad. But if you want to collect your money, you must go to court."
The senior lawyer specifically directed the FCT Minister to the Urban and Regional Planning Tribunal in Abuja, stating, "That is the body that has the final say on demolition and attempts to seal up properties."
"In other words, anybody who is aggrieved by the threat to seal up a property is advised to go to court. We are operating a democracy," Falana added.
With the Eid celebrations winding down, the FCTA is expected to resume enforcement actions against defaulters. The situation has raised concerns about property rights and the proper application of administrative powers in the Federal Capital Territory.
This development comes as part of Wike's broader efforts to increase revenue generation in the FCT and enforce compliance with existing regulations since his appointment as minister.
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