Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, a rights activist, has expressed dismay over the loss of her late husband Col. Paul Ogbebor’s, retd.’s property in Abuja.
She believes President Bola Tinubu ought to summon Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, to order.
Col. Ogbebor, a civil war hero and one of the first-generation officers in the Nigerian Army, owns Paulosa Nigeria Limited, the firm that owns the estate in the FCT’s Life Camp region, she added.
According to Lori-Ogbebor, who made this statement in an interview, the Federal Capital Development Authority, or FCDA, has already reallocated the property on December 9 after issuing a notice of quit on November 22, 2024.
Additionally, she stated that the estate was transferred to a firm with a three-time member of the House of Representatives as a director, according to her findings at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
Three weeks after notification was sent to the estate’s administration, the Certificate of Ownership was issued, according to Lori-Ogbebor.
As a result, the elder stateswoman urged President Tinubu to summon the FCT Ministry’s leadership to order, arguing that it is unfair to take away the property that her late husband, who battled for national unity and whose business, Paulosa, was one of the top companies that built notable infrastructure in the FCT, rightfully acquired.
She claims that “my husband travelled to Abuja and worked there.” He did not seize land. My spouse was one of the people who sweated to create the modern-day Abuja. He encouraged people to travel to Abuja. He didn’t ever own any land. Like other Nigerians, my husband was entitled to his land.
“A corporation called Paulosa brought Lebanese and Italians to work in this nation. They’re there to date, too. Each of them received a land certificate. They later revalidated after being instructed to do so. They were informed that they might now apply for this land permanently following revalidation. The sewerage system in Abuja was built by my beloved husband. My beloved husband passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“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 justice 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.
“I don’t want to ruin my husband’s legacy. He did a good job serving this nation. The children will now pay for whatever it is they want us to pay again. If the estate is demolished and given to someone else, it will be a tribute to Col. Ogbebor’s memory. He returned home empty-handed. This estate is the sole legacy he has left that is named after him.
“Unfortunately, the land was transferred to a business named after a three-time member of the House of Representatives who has connections to Wike as a director. I visited CAC, and I now have the documentation. I only ask that Wike be called to order by the president. This is our nation. It is necessary to investigate the revocation of lands in Abuja. Why would someone take land away from someone who worked for it? When Abuja was a forest, where was he? The investigation should be ordered by Mr. President, whose name is being tarnished. Enough is enough. I have requested that my solicitors present a case in court about the issue. Abuja’s land grab won’t benefit our nation.”
