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By Myke Agunwa
Undeterred by allegations of political witch-hunt, the enforcement team of Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) carried out its threat and on Monday sealed off the headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The enforcement team stormed the opposition party’s headquarters around 1.30pm and sealed the entrance gates to the secretariat with padlocks and stickers pasted at the front gate which read, “This property is now owned by FCTA, 26.5.2025”.
However, pointblanknews.com observed that there was no resistance from staff members or security men on duty. But after some pleas by party staff and visitors, the enforcement team gave those present a grace period of 30 minutes to remove vehicles and other valuables from the premises before it will be finally taken over. The team also stationed a police vehicle and personnel to ensure that order is maintained as the transition begins.
Speaking with journalists after the enforcement exercise, FCT , Minister, Nyesom Wike said that the exercise is not politically motivated but in the interest of the people.
Wike who spoke through his spokesperson, Lere Olayinka after the sealing exercise said, “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 possession of those over 4,000 properties. So are you also going to say all those ones that I mentioned are for politics? Moreover, this place is not owned by the PDP”.
Adding his voice, The director of Lands in the FCT, Chijioke Nwakwoeze said, “Just like we briefed you last Friday that the FCT administration will commence the taking of possession of the 4,794 properties revoked for non-payment of ground rents, we started this morning we’ve gone to a number of properties and sealed them as we did say we would do.
“We are now at Wadata Plaza, where the PDP is occupying, that’s the property belonging to Senator Samaila Mamman Kofi that the PDP is occupying. I think this is the 9th or 10th site that we visited today which we are sealing.
“The property had since March been revoked and we’ve repeatedly told the holders to ensure that they vacate it because we said it at that time that the FCTA will take possession of those properties in due course and that is what we have come to do today”.
When asked if the properly owners were notified ahead of the repossession he continued, “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 is 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.
“So, I don’t know if you are talking of writing to PDP, we don’t normally write to tenants or occupants, we write to the owners of the property, that is whom we have a contract” he said.
Throwing more light on the process of record keeping and documentation of property owners’ profile and the purported failed attempt to seal the FIRS office in Wuse Zone 6, the director continued, “We keep good records. In this case, we are talking of 28 years. The owner of this property, Samaila Mamman Kofi, was owing 28 years ground rent. And then FIRS is 25 years. So we keep proper records.
“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, which we just sealed before coming here, is owned by Fortunate Case Limited. When we got there, they said they own the property. But obviously, they didn’t do what they needed to do for them to be recognized as the owners”.
On the next step the administration will take, Nwankwoeze said, “Well, we have just taken physical possession of the property. Any other thing that will happen, will have to be determined in due course. We will not be here to tell you what will happen tomorrow.
“But as of today, we have taken physical possession of the property. Because the property has already been sealed since March, it has reverted to the FCTA. It’s just that we are coming today to take physical possession”.
When asked if the property will revert back to the owners if they go ahead to pay the ground rent, he responded, “Well, it will be up to them to approach the Honourable Minister of FCT. FCTA is the owner of the property as of today. If they approach him, and he gives them any consideration, that’s it.
“The minister will decide that. Not me. I’m not the minister of FCT” he said.
Attempts to get the position of the party from its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba was unsuccessful as they were holding a caucus meeting at Bauchi State governors lodge Asokoro ahead of its National Executive Committee (NEC) billed Tuesday.
Meanwhile, PDP has relocated to its operational base to Legacy House (PDP Campaign Office) located in Maitama, Abuja.
A staff of the party who is in a position to know but does not want to be mentioned said, “We have relocated to Legacy House. Every office in Wadata is also in Legacy. I have my office there and we shall be operating from there for the time being”.