Controversy Erupts as Documents Link FCT Minister Wike to Rapid Land Allocations Using Proxy Companies

Documents from the Department of Land Administration of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) have revealed that FCT Minister Nyesom Wike approved and issued Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) and Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) documents to a proxy company, Saravera Nigeria Limited, within just three weeks. This expedited process, which typically takes months, has raised questions about procedural irregularities......Read The Full Article>>.....Read The Full Article>>

SaharaReporters obtained copies of the documents, dated October 15 and November 11, 2024, respectively, with the latter signed by Wike.

Earlier reports from SaharaReporters implicated Wike’s personal lawyer, Ferdinand Orbih, and Sandy Onor, the 2023 PDP governorship candidate in Cross River State, in a land acquisition controversy. Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) documents indicate that Onor is a director at ALEED Construction Limited, a company with 500,000 shares, allegedly used as a proxy in the land deals.

Kingsley Chinda, the Minority Leader in the House of Representatives, is listed as a serving director in Saravera Nigeria Limited. Orbih, a shareholder in ALEED Construction Limited, is known to represent Wike in legal matters.

The issued C-of-O document for Saravera Nigeria Limited states:

“THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT SARAVERA NIGERIA LIMITED, whose address is 18, SUEZ CRESCENT, ZONE 4 WUSE, ABUJA, FCT, NIGERIA… is hereby granted a Right of Occupancy in and over the land described… for a term of 99 years commencing from the 15th day of October, 2024, according to the Land Use Act No. 6 of 1978…”

Reports allege that Saravera Nigeria Limited and ALEED Construction Limited are “front companies” used by Wike to acquire revoked lands, often displacing original landowners. Sources claim these companies are under the control of Chinda and Adapoyi Akor, with Akor executing numerous projects for Wike’s administration in Rivers State and handling the ongoing construction of judges’ quarters.

There are growing calls for a thorough investigation into these transactions. Top FCTA officials have demanded an audit of all revoked lands under Wike’s administration, suspecting widespread misuse of power.

The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) is reportedly under pressure to investigate Wike and Chinda for alleged land racketeering and violations of the Code of Conduct Act. Advocacy groups have urged President Bola Tinubu to probe the matter and hold those involved accountable.

In a related development, residents of the Life Camp area in Abuja have protested the revocation of their land rights, adding to public outcry over the handling of FCT land allocations. Observers are now watching closely to see how authorities, including the DSS and the presidency, respond to these allegations.