Lori-Ogbebor alleges revocation of late husband’s FCT property

Urges action from Tinubu
Rights activist, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, has lamented the revocation of ownership of a property belonging to her late husband, Col Paul Ogbebor (rtd), in Abuja, urging President Bola Tinubu to call the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to order.

She said the estate, located in the Life Camp area of the FCT, is the property of Paulosa Nigeria Limited, a company owned by the late Ogbebor, a civil war hero, and one of the first-generation officers in the Nigerian Army.

Lori-Ogbebor, in a chat yesterday, claimed that the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) had issued a quit notice on November 22 this year, and went ahead to reallocate the property on December 9.

She added that her findings at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) indicated that the estate was reallocated to a company that allegedly has a three-time member of the House of Representatives as Director.

The activist alleged that the Certificate of Ownership was issued three weeks after the notice was issued to the management of the estate.

The elder stateswoman, who called on the President to rein in the leadership of the FCT Ministry, stated: “It is unjust to revoke the property, which was rightly acquired by my late husband, who fought for the unity of the country and whose company, Paulosa, was among the leading firms who constructed prominent infrastructure in the FCT.”

She continued: “My husband went to Abuja and worked there. He wasn’t a land grabber. My husband was among those whose sweat contributed to building the Abuja we have today. He gave people hope to come to Abuja. He never collected any land. My husband got his land rightfully like any other Nigerian. Paulosa is a company that brought Italians and Lebanese to work in this country. And they are there to date. They were all given land certificates. Later, they were told to revalidate, which they did. After revalidation, they were told they were now free to apply permanently for this land. My dear husband constructed the sewage system in Abuja. My dear husband died during the COVID-19 outbreak. He had children. The children paid N10 million to regularise. When they demanded a receipt, FCT officials said they were not ready yet. That was during Mohammed Musa. El-Rufai came, it was the same thing. At some point, they said the area was not surveyed, and that they needed to survey it. The children paid for the survey to the FCDA.”

Lori-Ogbebor added: “Every time they would say the file is with the minister. When Wike came, on November 22, 2024, he sent a quit notice, and the children were surprised. I couldn’t even imagine it. He followed it up with a demolition notice on the 9th of December.  The occupants were asked to quit, and they are now staying there illegally.

“I don’t want my husband’s legacy to be destroyed. He served this country well. Whatever it is they want us to pay again, the children will pay it now. It will be an injustice to the memory of Col. Ogbebor if the estate is destroyed and given to another person. He didn’t bring any money back home. The only legacy he has that bears his name is this estate.”

She claimed: “The sad thing here is that the property was reallocated to a company with the name of a three-time House of Representatives member as Director. I went to CAC and I have the proof now. All I am asking is for the President to call Wike to order. This is our country. The revocation of lands in Abuja should be probed. Why would the land be grabbed from those who laboured for it? Where was he when Abuja was a forest? Mr President, whose name is being polluted, should order a probe. Enough is enough. I have asked my lawyers to file a case in court on the matter. The land grabbing in Abuja won’t help this country.”