‘Abuse Of Power’ – HURIWA Slams Wike Over Abuja Property Seizures
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has fiercely criticized the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) over its mass revocation and sealing of properties in Abuja, calling the action illegal, unconstitutional, and a gross abuse of executive power.
HURIWA in a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko on Friday, condemned the policy being spearheaded by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, warning that it violates citizens’ property rights and dangerously flirts with authoritarianism.
“The FCT Minister is not a deity. He is not a landlord. He is a public servant and a steward of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, sworn to uphold the Constitution and obey the laws of the land,”
“Land is not just a physical asset—it is an ancestral spirit, a source of identity, livelihood, and survival for millions,” HURIWA said.
HURIWA’s position comes in the wake of reports that over 4,700 properties—including key institutions like the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the PDP National Secretariat, and several hotels—have been sealed or revoked by the FCTA due to alleged ground rent defaults.
The group aligned itself with Senator Ireti Kingibe, who earlier raised alarms over the legality of the enforcement campaign.
Kingibe in a statement sent to THE WHISTLER on Thursday contended that the FCT Minister’s actions violate both the 1999 Constitution and the Land Use Act, which govern land tenure and revocation procedures in Nigeria.
“Failure to pay ground rent does not provide legal justification for the FCTA to seize, revoke, or seal private properties without due process as enshrined in the Constitution,” HURIWA echoed.
Citing Section 44 of the Constitution, the group emphasized that the right to own immovable property is a fundamental right, and any deprivation must meet the strict conditions of public interest, legality, and prompt compensation.
HURIWA also referenced Section 28 of the Land Use Act, which permits land revocation only under overriding public interest—and only with due process and compensation—and Section 42, which mandates notice and an opportunity for redress.
“The Land Use Act is clear. The government can only revoke land in the overriding public interest, and even at that, due compensation must be paid. Failure to pay ground rent, even if prolonged, does not qualify as ‘overriding public interest’ and does not justify revocation or sealing of property,” the group stated.
Describing the sweeping enforcement as “reckless, anti-people, and counterproductive,” HURIWA warned that the policy could deepen the country’s economic woes and exacerbate public discontent at a time when Nigerians are already battling inflation, tax hikes, and economic hardship.
“The timing of these actions is appalling. At a time when Nigerians are struggling to keep their businesses afloat, feed their families, and cope with multidimensional poverty, this administration is choosing to inflict more pain by seizing their homes and business premises without lawful justification,” the statement read.
HURIWA further accused Wike of deploying state power as a political weapon, noting that executive offices are meant for service—not domination.
“Mr. Wike must not mistake the FCT for a personal fiefdom. The FCT is the common property of all Nigerians, and any minister who attempts to dispossess citizens of their legitimate holdings is no better than a conqueror,” Onwubiko added.
The group warned against a return to “military-era executive fiat,” where the rights of citizens are trampled upon under the guise of administrative enforcement.
“This is a democracy. No Nigerian—whether a Senator, a Minister, or a President—is above the Constitution,” HURIWA insisted.
The group commended Senator Kingibe for her “boldness and principled stand” on the issue, calling on all arms of government, civil society, religious leaders, and residents of the FCT to reject what it termed “creeping tyranny.”
To de-escalate tensions and restore legality, HURIWA demanded the immediate reversal of all arbitrary revocations, unsealing of all affected properties, and a legal audit of the FCTA’s enforcement actions.
The group threatened a possible litigation on behalf of affected residents if the Minister fails to retrace his steps.
“This is our final warning: Nigerians will not tolerate a land-grabbing regime in the name of ground rent enforcement,” Onwubiko warned.
“Land is life. It is a heritage. It is a spirit. No one, not even a Minister, has the right to dispossess Nigerians of their land without following due process,” the group contended.
‘Abuse Of Power’ – HURIWA Slams Wike Over Abuja Property Seizures is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
