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Wike Revokes 4,794 Land Titles Over Non-Payment Of Ground Rent For 10 Years

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Wike

Wike Revokes 4,794 Land Titles Over Non-Payment Of Ground Rent For 10 Years

Wike revokes 4,794 land titles over non-payment of ground rent for 10 years. Mr Olayinka said that a total of 8,375 property owners owed a total of N6.97 billion as ground rent.

The minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has approved revocation of 4,794 land titles over non-payment of ground rent for more than 10 years.

Lere Olayinka, senior special assistant on public communications and social media, to the minister announced the revocation at a news conference in Abuja on Monday.

Mr Olayinka said that a total of 8,375 property owners owed a total of N6.97 billion as ground rent as at the end of 2024.

He added that the 8,375 property owners mainly in the Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama and Guzape have not paid ground rent in the last 43 years.

“This is in contravention of the terms and conditions of grant of the Rights of Occupancy, in line with the provisions of Section 28, Subsections 5(a) and (b) of the Land Use Act.

“It is important to state that payment of ground rent on landed property in the FCT is founded on extant legislation.

“It is clearly stipulated in the terms and conditions of grant of Right of Occupancy, and it is due for payment on the first day of January, each year, without demand,” he said.

Mr Olayinka recalled that the FCTA made numerous publications in national newspapers and announcements on broadcast media since 2023, calling on defaulters to pay up all outstanding bills and ground rents.

He said that the publications yielded little response, as several allottees failed to pay.

“Consequently, the titles of the properties in default of payment of ground rent for 10 years and above have been revoked forthwith,” he said.

He added that a 21-day grace has been given to title holders, who defaulted in payment of ground rent for between one and 10 years, after which the affected titles would be revoked.

Also, the FCTA director land, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, explained that the land titles owners who defaulted in payment, were from the 10 oldest districts in Phase 1 of the Federal Capital City.

Mr Nwankwoeze said that the FCTA would be sending revocation notices to the affected allottees in phase one districts from Cadastral Zone A01 to A09, affecting private companies, individuals, including government organisations.

He added that revocation was being done in phases and in categories, adding that phase Ii, would be next in line, after the revocation of phase 1 was completed.

He said that phase II comprised Gudu District, Durumi, Wuye, Katampe, Jabi, Mabushi, Utako, and Daki Biyu among others.

Wike Revokes 4,794 Land Titles

Wike Revokes 4,794 Land Titles

 

The director further said that with the revocation, the properties built on the lands would become FCTA properties, adding that the FCT minister would decide what to do with them.

“Once a title is revoked, the property reverts to the FCTA, so, effectively, all the 4,794 properties have reverted to the FCTA,” he said.

Crime

High Court Rejects EFCC’s Additional Proof Evidence On Emefiele

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Emefiele

High Court Rejects EFCC’s Additional Proof Evidence On Emefiele

High Court rejects EFCC’s additional proof evidence on Emefiele. Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court Abuja, has rejected the additional proof of evidence brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, in the alleged procurement fraud trial brought against him.

Delivering ruling in a motion on notice filed by Emefiele to object to the action of the EFCC, Justice Muazu held that the Commission had on February 12, 2024, first filed additional proof of evidence against the former CBN governor to accommodate the evidence of a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha and one Bamayi Haruna Mairiga.

The judge, who noted that the charge against Emefiele was filed since August 14, 2023 and his plea taking on November 16, 2023, said that the action of the EFCC would amount to denial of fair trial because the former governor of CBN was not confronted with the new evidence during investigation as required by law.

Justice Muazu further added that the action of EFCC amounted to trial by ambush and a clear case of fishing for evidence in the trial that commenced since November 28, 2023.

Justice Muazu pointed out that allowing the additional proof of evidence after the charge had been amended severally was prejudicial to the defendant, as his right to fair hearing is being breached.

Emefiele

Emefiele

The judge held that the position of the law is that the charge was filed upon the completion of investigation and prima facie case established against any defendant in a criminal matter, adding that in the instant case, the contrary is the case.

The judge however, declined to strike out the charge for being a product of incomplete or ongoing investigation and therefore speculative as claimed by Emefiele.

Justice Muaza said that the charge cannot be struck down because both the defendant and the prosecution had joined issues with each other and trial almost completed.

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Crime

Ogun Farmer Arrested For Stealing Pineapples

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Ogun Farmer Arrested For Stealing Pineapples

Ogun farmer arrested for stealing pineapples. Police in Ogun State have arrested a 53-year-old farmer, Oloyede David, for allegedly stealing three bags of pineapples worth N90,000 in Orile-Ilugun, Odeda Local Government Area.

The suspect was caught harvesting the fruits from a plantation owned by one Ola Omotayo.

Police spokesperson Omolola Odutola confirmed the arrest on Wednesday, stating that officers from the Orile-Ilugun outstation apprehended David around 11:58 a.m. on Tuesday after another farmer spotted him and alerted others.

Police

Po

“The suspect was caught with three bags of pineapples, valued at approximately N90,000. The farm owner arrived at the scene and confirmed the theft,” Odutola said.

Omotayo further claimed that pineapples worth N650,000 and a submersible pumping machine valued at N180,000 had previously been stolen from her farm.

David has been taken into custody, and the case has been transferred to the Divisional Crime Branch for further investigation.

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Crime

Police Arrests Suspects, Recover Drugs, Weapons Meant For Terrorists In Yobe

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Guns

Police Arrests Suspects, Recover Drugs, Weapons Meant For Terrorists In Yobe

Police arrests suspects, recover drugs, weapons meant for terrorists in Yobe. The Nigeria Police Force has arrested three individuals in Potiskum, Yobe State, with 30 cartons of codeine syrup and other hard drugs intended for supply to bandits, Boko Haram insurgents, and kidnappers operating in the state and neighboring regions.

According to a statement by Force Public Relations Officer ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the suspects—Usman Yahaya (50), Joseph Matthew (27), and Solomon Bala (25)—were apprehended on February 1, 2025, by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department-Special Tactical Squad (FID-STS) following credible intelligence.

Adejobi further disclosed that another suspect, Hauwa Sani (30), was intercepted along the Keffi-Abuja Expressway with 124 rounds of live ammunition concealed in a five-liter container of palm oil. Upon interrogation, she admitted that a contact named Nasiru in Daura had instructed her to deliver the ammunition to Katsina State.

Guns

Guns

Additionally, on February 3, 2025, police operatives arrested three more suspects—Yusuf Dantani (24), Usman Labaran (32), and Musa Mohammed (23)—with 10 AK-47 rifles. The suspects confessed to being involved in arms trafficking and disclosed that they had received ₦3,980,000 for their last arms deal.

The police emphasized their commitment to combating crime and urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the authorities.

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