N29b ground rents debt: FCTA to place caveat on debtors’ property
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), in a bid to recover huge debt owed it by property owners in the FCT, has placed a caveat on the affected property, which cases are pending in courts.
The caveat is to deny such titleholders access to the property and eventually forfeit the same to government.
This was even as the administration said it would continue with prosecution of defaulters, preparatory to obtaining a court order for forfeiture of the affected property.
The caveat will also safeguard such property from being tampered with, especially by attempting to sell or transfer ownership, because the matter is being heard in court.
The implication is that a caveat, when placed on any property, whether developed or undeveloped, and even, if ground rent is fully cleared, a written application must be submitted, and approval obtained before it can be lifted.
The FCTA, in a statement by Information Communication Director, Muhammed Hazat Sule, said it was determined to recover all ground rent debts owed it by property owners in Abuja, and all necessary procedure will be followed to achieve this.
He said: “Since the administration has commenced prosecution of the defaulting titleholders, in spite of several appeals from the FCTA, the only thing that can stop progression of this action is for the affected property owners to clear their outstanding debts.”
The government is in court to seek an order to force debtors to clear their debts or forfeit the affected property, since they are recalcitrant in paying the debt, despite several warnings.
The FCTA took the steps to drive home the point that it was desirous of recovering the over N29 billion ground rents owed it by property owners.
It would be recalled that FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr. Adesola Olusade, recently inaugurated a debt recovery committee, with the mandate to recover outstanding debts owed the FCTA, with particular interest in ground rents and other sundry fees in land administration, as well as other land related departments.
