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Wike Embroiled in Land Dispute with Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor

Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, widow of late engineer Ikponmwosa Paul-Ogbebor, has accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, of reassigning her family’s 2.5-hectare estate land in Life Camp, Abuja, to Saravera Nigeria Limited—allegedly controlled by House of Representatives Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda.

 

Addressing the media in Abuja, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, alongside her children, described the reallocation of their property as unjust, given that it was legally allocated to their family in 1984 under Paulosa Nigeria Limited. She questioned how Saravera Nigeria Limited managed to secure both the Right of Occupancy (R of O) and Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) within just two months.

 

The widow, 84, expressed her frustration over the situation, noting that despite her family’s contributions to Nigeria’s development, they were being treated unfairly. She highlighted her late husband’s significant role as one of the pioneers who helped build Abuja, emphasizing that the family’s rights must be protected.

 

The conflict began over alleged land use violations and unpaid charges, which the FCT Administration (FCTA) cited as grounds for revoking the property’s title. Chief Lori-Ogbebor refuted the claims, presenting evidence of a **N10 million payment** toward ground rents. She maintained that no official timeline for payment deadlines or penalties had been communicated.

 

The family received a quit notice on November 22, 2024, and a demolition notice on December 9, 2024, a move they called unjust and hasty. They argued that under the existing process, they were still awaiting approval for a new plot number, which had been missing from the FCTA’s system.

 

Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor’s son, Osaruonanen Ogbebor, explained the bureaucratic delays, stating:

“Without a plot number, receipts cannot be generated, and further payments cannot be made. Despite fulfilling all requirements, the process has been stalled on the Minister’s desk for over a year.”

 

The family discovered that their property, plot number 2241, had been reallocated to Saravera Nigeria Limited, a company allegedly linked to Kingsley Chinda. They accused the FCTA of bypassing due process in approving the land’s reallocation within a suspiciously short period.

 

An insider alleged that these bureaucratic bottlenecks were deliberate, claiming that Minister Wike’s actions were aimed at empowering his political allies ahead of the 2027 elections by granting them prime lands in Abuja.

 

Chief Lori-Ogbebor urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene, stressing that the family had been law-abiding and deserved fair treatment. She also emphasized her late husband’s legacy in building Abuja, lamenting that such contributions were now being disregarded.

 

The family’s demands include a review of the land reallocation process and evidence of payment receipts for the Right of Occupancy by Saravera Nigeria Limited.

 

The Senate has since intervened, directing Minister Nyesom Wike to halt all demolition activities pending the outcome of an investigation. An ad hoc committee, led by Deputy Senate President Barau I. Jibrin, has been tasked with examining the matter and determining the legality of the reallocation.

 

Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications to the FCT Minister, challenged those making claims about land grabbing to provide valid proof of ownership, including the Right of Occupancy and Certificate of Occupancy.

 

As tensions rise, residents of the estate have vowed to resist any demolition efforts, with many stating they have lived on the property since 1991.

 

The Ogbebor family, through their legal representatives, continues to pursue clarification and resolution from the FCTA, calling for transparency and adherence to due process.

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