The House of Representatives on Thursday, June 6, resolved to investigate all land allocations made in the name of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory between January 2023 and August 2023, particularly during the period when there was no sitting minister.

The House directed its Committee on FCT to identify all such lands, especially those currently involved in litigation or multiple allocations, and noted that the allocations have been withdrawn by the Minister pending the resolution of the matter.

This followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Hon. Jonathan Gaza Gbefwi (SDP, Nasarawa) who alleged that some plots of land were hurriedly allocated within the period there was. No sitting Minister in the FCT.

According to him, Section 297 of the 1999 Constitution states that ownership of all lands in the FCT. Abuja, is vested in the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, while 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.

He noted that President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima were sworn in on Monday, May 29, 2023, marking the start of their four-year terms.

The current Minister of the FCT, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, assumed office on August 21, 2023.

Gbewfi alleged that within the period between 29^th May 2023-21^st August 2023, several title documents on land in the FCT were issued to some real estate developers in a highly suspicious manner.

He wondered whether the Director of Lands or any official of the FCDA who issued R of Os, 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 also alleged that some of the lands affected were subject to litigations which were yet to be resolved before the allocation, adding 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 is fraudulently issued or procured, whatever is built on it should not stand in the interest of the public. (The Nation)

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