The Federal Capital Territory Administration announced that it has completed plans to prosecute 413 property owners for failing to pay ground rent.
The FCTA claimed that the action was taken as part of efforts to recoup more than N29 billion in ground rent that local property owners owe.
Muhammad Sule, who serves as both the Director of Information and Communication for the Federal Capital Territory and the Chairman of the FCT Debts Recovery Committee’s Media and Publicity Sub-Committee, said in a statement on Sunday that the prosecution, which is set to begin at the end of August, may result in the forfeiture of the affected properties to the government in accordance with applicable laws.
The statement read, “It is disheartening that in spite of several appeals and warnings, some of the debtors have failed to pay their outstanding ground rents, thereby putting the fate of their properties on the balance.
“Accordingly, since all entreaties failed, the administration has no other option than to commence the prosecution of the first batch of defaulting property owners.
“The committee has earlier announced the engagement of five law firms, owned by Senior Advocates of Nigeria, who have been hired to prepare legal documents to commence legal action against the defaulting titleholders.
“Consequently, the committee wishes to warn that there will be no sacred cows as the law will surely take its course because, the only language it will understand is for the debtors to clear their outstanding debts.”
The Nigeria Lawyer
