Rights activist and elder stateswoman, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, has raised concerns over the revocation of her late husband’s property in Abuja, urging President Bola Tinubu to intervene and call the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to order.
The property, located in the Life Camp area of the Federal Capital Territory, belonged to Paulosa Nigeria Limited, a company owned by her late husband, Col. Paul Ogbebor (retd), a civil war hero and one of Nigeria’s first-generation military officers.
Chief Lori-Ogbebor, in an interview, revealed that the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) issued a quit notice to the property’s management on November 22, 2024, and subsequently reallocated the estate to another company on December 9. According to her, the Certificate of Occupancy for the reallocation was issued just three weeks after the notice, raising suspicions of undue influence.
Investigations at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), she noted, revealed that the property was reallocated to a company linked to a three-time member of the House of Representatives, who serves as a director and is reportedly close to Wike.
Chief Lori-Ogbebor decried the injustice of revoking a property rightfully acquired by her late husband, whose contributions to the development of Abuja were significant. She stated, “My husband was not a land grabber. He worked tirelessly to build the Abuja we have today. His company, Paulosa, was among the leading firms that constructed key infrastructure in the FCT, including the sewage system. The land was acquired legally, and the necessary payments were made, including a ₦10 million regularization fee. Yet, the FCDA has continuously delayed issuing receipts or surveying the property.”
She recounted her family’s struggles over the years to secure the property’s documentation. Despite complying with all regulatory requirements, including revalidation and survey payments, the property was suddenly marked for demolition under Wike’s administration. She added, “On November 22, 2024, a quit notice was issued, and by December 9, a demolition notice followed. The occupants were declared illegal, and the property was reallocated.”
Chief Lori-Ogbebor emphasized the symbolic importance of the estate, describing it as the only legacy her husband left behind. “This estate is a testament to my husband’s contributions to Nigeria. It would be a grave injustice to destroy it and reallocate it to someone else. The property was given to a company linked to a politically connected individual. I have evidence from the CAC to back this claim.”
Calling on President Tinubu, she appealed for a probe into the revocation of lands in Abuja. “This is a clear case of land grabbing. Where were these individuals when Abuja was a forest? Mr. President must intervene to protect the rights of those who labored to build this city. The actions of the FCT Ministry are tarnishing his administration’s image.”
The rights activist disclosed that her lawyers have filed a case in court, vowing to fight against the injustice. “The legacy of Col. Ogbebor must not be destroyed. We demand accountability and justice for all affected by these unfair revocations,” she concluded.
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