In an effort to recover over N29 billion ground rent owed by property owners, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has concluded arrangements to prosecute 413 defaulters by the end of the month.
The legal action may lead to the forfeiture of affected property to the government in line with relevant laws.
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In a statement by Muhammad Hazat Sule, chairman, media and publicity sub-committee of the recovery team, the FCTA noted that: “It is disheartening that some of the debtors have failed to pay their outstanding ground rent despite several appeals and warnings, thereby putting the fate of their property on the balance.’’
“Accordingly, since all entreaties have failed, the administration has no other option than to commence the prosecution of the first batch of defaulting property owners.
It would be recalled that the committee earlier announced the engagement of five law firms owned by Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) who have been hired to prepare legal documents to commence legal action against the defaulting titleholders.
The statement reads further: “Already, letters serving as last warning to the debtors have been dispatched and the real court cases will start at the end of August 2022.”
The FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr Adesola Olusade, recently inaugurated the debt recovery sub-committee with the mandate to recover the outstanding debts owed the FCTA with a particular interest in ground rent and other sundry fees in land administration, as well as other land-related issues.
Consequently, the committee warned that there would be no sacred cows as the law would take its course, noting that the only language it would understand was for the defaulters to clear their debts.
