The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions has summoned Chijioke Nwankwoeze, the Director of Lands in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, to appear before it on Thursday over allegations of corruption and gross abuse of office.
This development follows mounting accusations from residents that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has been engaging in land grabbing, reallocating prime properties to his allies. The minister has vehemently denied these allegations, urging anyone with evidence to come forward.
Chooks Oko, the Senior Legislative Aide to the Speaker and Head of Media, confirmed that the invitation was prompted by a petition from the Centre for Social Justice, Equity, and Transparency.
The petition alleges that Nwankwoeze operates multiple private offices involved in land racketeering, money laundering, and false asset declarations.
Citing Sections 88 and 89 of the Nigerian Constitution, the committee warned that if Nwankwoeze fails to appear, the hearing will proceed without his testimony.
Mike Etaba, the chairman of the committee, emphasized the committee’s commitment to fairness, stating, “Ours is to give every Nigerian the right to a fair hearing, whether you are the petitioner or the respondent. We strive to give justice to those deserving of it based on facts presented to the committee.”
The controversy deepened as property owners accused Minister Wike of revoking land ownership rights and reallocating plots to his allies.
Some residents claim that the FCT Administration has been publishing revocation notices in newspapers and giving landowners as little as two weeks to vacate before their properties are reassigned.
One of the affected individuals, rights activist Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, accused the minister of illegally revoking a property that belonged to her late husband, Col. Paul Ogbebor (rtd). She has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and halt what she describes as unjust property seizures.
According to Lori-Ogbebor, the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) issued a quit notice on November 22, 2024, and proceeded with reallocation by December 9.
She claimed that her inquiries at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) revealed that the estate was reassigned to a company linked to a three-time member of the House of Representatives. Shockingly, a Certificate of Ownership was issued just three weeks after the revocation notice.
Lori-Ogbebor decried the move as an injustice, arguing that the property was rightfully acquired by her late husband, who played a pivotal role in national unity and infrastructure development in the FCT through his company, Paulosa.
As the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions begins its investigation, the case is poised to become a litmus test for accountability and transparency in Nigeria’s land administration system.
Observers are keenly watching whether the FCT Minister and his officials will be held accountable for these grave allegations or if the case will fade into bureaucratic obscurity.