By Our Reporter

In what is some analysts described as political witch-hunt, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has sealed the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja, Wadata Plaza, over unpaid ground rent amounting to 28 years.

The property, owned by Senator Samaila Mamman Kofi, was revoked in March 2025 due to the outstanding debt.

According to the Director of Land Administration, FCTA, Chijoke Nwankwoeze, the agency took physical possession of the property as part of its efforts to reclaim over 4,000 properties across the territory with unpaid ground rent.

Nwankwoeze emphasized that the FCTA dealt directly with the property owner, Samaila Mamman Kofi, who was duly served a revocation notice on March 14, 2025.

“Yes, the property holder whom we deal with, we don’t deal with occupants, we deal with property owners, we don’t deal with occupants or tenants. Senator Samaila Mamman Kofi was duly served the revocation notice and out of abundance of caution, we also came here and pasted the revocation notice served on Samaila Mamman Kofi at his Kaduna address, the address on record”.

“Samaila Mamman Kofi is the owner of the property and the address we have in our records for him is that of Kaduna and we duly served him. This is a copy of the revocation notice and the evidence of service, this is him, served since the 14th of March 2025 and a copy of this was duly pasted at the gate of this building”.

Addressing allegations of political witch hunt, the FCTA dismissed allegations of a political witch hunt, stating that the action was purely administrative and in line with the provisions of the Land Use Act.

Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, noted that other properties sealed include those of Total Petrol Station, Access Bank, and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) office, among others.

“We are not here for politics. If you are talking about political witch hunt, we have been to Ibro hotels, we have been to Access Bank, we have been to FIRS, we have been to Total Petrol Station, we are also still going to other places, and tomorrow we will go to other places”.

“This exercise will continue as long as we are able to conclude the taking possession of those over 4,000 properties. So are we also going to say all those ones that I mentioned are for politics Moreover, this place is not owned by the PDP”.

The FCTA has maintained that it will continue to take possession of revoked properties until all outstanding issues are resolved. The sealed properties are expected to be reclaimed by the FCTA, with the agency emphasizing its commitment to enforcing land administration regulations.

Reacting to claims that FIRS has paid its ground rent, Lere said:
“When you pay your ground rent, you will have to be issued with receipt of payment. Let the FIRS present the receipt of payment issued by the Lands Department or the FCTA, showing that they paid ground rent for 25 years on the property we went to. So those claims are not completely true”

“Some of them, like FIRS, they claim they own the property. But in our records, they don’t. If you buy property, you have to register your interest”

“The property which FIRS is occupying, where we just sealed before coming here, is owned by Fortunate Case Limited (not sure about this name). When we got there, they said they own the property. But obviously, they didn’t do what they needed to do, so that they will be recognized as the owners”.

The FCTA has taken physical possession of the PDP national secretariat, but the possibility of the property being returned to the PDP remains uncertain. According to the Director of Land Administration, the decision to consider returning the property would depend on the Honorable Minister of FCTA.

The possible reconsideration is that if the PDP chooses to pay the outstanding ground rent, they may approach the Minister to plead their case. The Minister would then decide whether to grant them any consideration, potentially allowing them to regain ownership or occupancy of the property.

“The FCTA’s position is clear: as of now, the property belongs to the FCTA, and any further decisions would be made by the Minister”.

The Director of Land Administration emphasized that he does not have the authority to make such decisions, and any potential reconsideration would be at the Minister’s discretion.