- Alleges compromise by FCDA Executive Secretary and staff, using FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s name to push reallocation for personal gain
- Urges Wike’s intervention as genuine allottee battles displacement despite ₦300m investment
The Integrity Advocacy for Development Initiative (IADI) has raised alarm over what it described as a plot by senior officials of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to hijack the Kafe Green Area in Abuja, despite a pending court case and huge investments already made by the original allottee.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Executive Director of IADI, Christopher Ofomhi, disclosed that the land was duly allocated to BUNJOA Concept Ltd in 2007, with the company paying ground rent up until 2010.
According to him, the Department of Parks & Recreation confirmed the payments before an embargo was later placed on ground rent collection.
Ofomhi stated that the company had already spent about ₦300 million on compensation and statutory charges, only for the land to be dubiously reallocated by what he described as “corrupt successors of Bukus Achi,” the former Director of Parks & Recreation, allegedly for personal gain. He accused the current FCDA Executive Secretary and some staff members of compromising the process by hiding under the name of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to push through a reallocation scheme designed to benefit private interests.
Despite the fact that the matter has been in court since 2022, with FCDA lawyers actively participating, Ofomhi revealed that a new company, Tegwa-Tegwanig Ltd, has now emerged, claiming it was engaged by the FCDA to develop a multi-event sports centre on the disputed site.
“This development raises serious questions. What has happened to the genuine allottee who followed due process and invested millions? Why does the FCDA appear to disregard judicial processes and the constitutional rights of Nigerians to own property anywhere in the country? And why is an Executive Secretary in such a hurry to displace the rightful owner without due process or fair compensation?” Ofomhi queried.
The civil society group alleged that some FCDA officials were hiding under the guise of a public project to appropriate the land for personal benefit. It warned that such acts of impunity undermine public trust in government institutions.
IADI therefore called on the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, the FCDA leadership, and other relevant authorities to urgently intervene and halt what it described as “the planned hijack of an innocent citizen’s land.”
“Land administration in Abuja must not be reduced to a playground for corruption. Due process must be respected, the courts must be allowed to decide, and citizens must be protected from exploitation,” Ofomhi stressed.
Concluding the statement, IADI emphasized that the matter transcends the interest of one company, describing it as a litmus test for governance credibility and the rule of law in Nigeria.
“As civil society, we cannot stand aloof while a dangerous culture of impunity takes root in the heart of the nation’s capital. If judicial pronouncements and due process are ignored in Abuja, then what hope do ordinary Nigerians have in other parts of the country?” Ofomhi asked.
The group further appealed to the Director General of the State Security Service (DGSS) to prevail on the FCT DSS to conclude its ongoing investigation into the Parks & Recreation Department and ensure that all those found culpable face justice, noting that this will serve as a deterrent to others.
The group also warned that it was prepared, alongside allied civil society organizations, to escalate the matter through lawful civic action, including peaceful demonstrations and public advocacy, until justice is achieved.
“We will stand firmly on the side of justice. This is not just about land, it is about whether Nigerians can trust their government to protect rights and respect the courts. No one is above the law, and we will not relent until accountability prevails,” IADI declared.
