By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
In a bid to recover the N29 billion ground rent debt ,the FCT Administration has hired the services of five law firms for persecution of debtors.
The Committee said that representatives of the law firms, mostly Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs),are preparing legal documents to commence full legal action against the defaulting titleholders.
FCT Chairman Media and Publicity Sub Committee disclosed that already, letters serving as last warning to such defaulters are being dispatched, as the government is committed to recover every dime owed the Administration.
The FCT Administration decided to set up this Coordinating Committee due to the failure of titleholders to pay the prescribed land charges, despite several appeals and notices served on the affected property owners.
The Coordinating Committee said it is poised to take advantage of this robust partnership with these highly professional legal firms in Abuja with the hope of prosecuting multiple cases arising from recovery processes.
It also warned all property owners owing the FCT Administration to brace up, because a searchlight is being beamed on all defaulters and it is not going to be business as usual.
The Recovery Committee advised that it is more honorable and responsible for property owners to rush and clear their outstanding debts, because the government needs these monies to fund the infrastructural development that is needed for the development of the Federal Capital Territory.
Daybreak reports that the FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr. Adesola Olusade recently inaugurated a debt recovery committee with the mandate to recover the outstanding debts owed the FCT Administration with particular interest in ground rents and other sundry fees in the Land Administration as well as other Land related departments.