The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello, has been asked to open the books for public scrutiny of the alleged widespread allocation of public land to political office holders.

Foremost human rights concern, Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), in a statement said Certificates of Occupancy are being issued to vested political interests. The pro-life group is invoking the Freedom of Information Law to ensure full disclosure.

In the petition addressed to the FCT Minister and signed by HEDA Chairman, the group said politicians were accused of illegally procuring public land in Abuja without recourse to due process adding that land remains at the centre of survival and livelihood of indigenous peoples.

“Public lands are being taking over by the privileged few in government. The consequences for future generations are enormous. It is time drastic steps are taken to avoid selling the heritage of communities to private individuals and their children.

“We call for full investigation of reports that Federal Capital Territory (FCT) allegedly approved large portions of land of about 6,000 square metres each by signing out statutory rights of occupancy to known politicians hence,” HEDA said.

Independent sources link the FCT Minister to the scam.

The group said some earlier media reports had listed the beneficiaries of the said signing out to involve the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Abba Kyari; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal; current Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Gida Mustapha; former Director-General of the Department of State Services, Mr. Lawal Daura; Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi.”

Others indicted were Minister of Aviation Mr. Hadi Sirika; the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and other prominent names whose allocations’ right of occupancy (R of O) have been delivered.

HEDA urged the Minister to respond to media allegations that the Minister personally took care of himself, members of the federal cabinet, principal officers of the two chambers of the legislature and many of President Muhammadu Buhari’s aides.

Some of the beneficiaries were said to have procured two choice allocations of 6,000 square metres each and that separate choice plots in Maitama and Guzape districts were received by each beneficiary.

The group said other beneficiaries of the land allocation largesse with only a plot each were non-principal officers of the National Assembly and fringe aides within the Presidency.

“The Minister must immediately respond to reports backed with scanned copies of the alleged granted statutory right of occupancy certificates and we have carefully combed out, some vital details from the Certificates.

“In line with our mandate to promote accountability and foster transparency, and in view of the above report, bearing in mind that the Land Use Act vests in the Governor of a state to grant statutory right of occupancy, we hereby demand for the urgent confirmation and verification of the above relayed report and the above certificates of occupancy as we believe that records available to your office will clarify the numerous questions in the mind of the populace as regards this alleged inappropriate signing off of large plots of land to political officers,” HEDA stated adding that the request is legally backed by the provisions of Section 2, 3, and 4 of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.

In the petition, HEDA listed the details of the land allocation including the certificate numbers and addresses of allocates lands of the said beneficiaries.

1. Certificate No. 019506

Name: Abubakar Olubukola Saraki

Address: 48, Lake Chad Crescent, Maitama, Abuja, FCT, Nigeria

New File No: KW 62891

R of O Date: 20/07/2018

2. Certificate No. 019535

Name: Abubakar Olubukola Saraki

Address: 48, Lake Chad Crescent, Maitama, Abuja, FCT, Nigeria

New File No: KW 62897

R of O Date: 20/07/2018

3. Certificate No. 019529

Name: Lawal Daura Musa

Address: 2, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Gwarinpa, Abuja, FCT, Nigeria

New File No: KT 62803

R of O Date: 23/07/2018

4. Certificate No. 019230

Name: Adamu Adamu

Address: 23 21 Road, Gwarinpa, Abuja, FCT, Nigeria

New File No: BA 64475

R of O Date: 13/6/2018

5. Certificate No. 019285

Name: Hadi Abubakar Sirika

Address: 425 Dennis Osadebey Crescent, Apo Legislative Qtrs, Abuja, FCT

New File No: KT 62719

R of O Date: 27/6/2018

6. Certificate No. 019325

Name: Abba Kyari

Address: 6, Yahaya Imana, Kaduna, Kaduna, Nigeria

New File No: BO 63294

R of O Date: 11/07/2018

7. Certificate No. 019227

Name: Mohammed Musa Bello

Address: 15, Ibrahim Atta Road, Jimeta, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria

New File No: AD 62497

R of O Date: 13/06/2018

8. Certificate No. 019249

Name: Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi

Address: 1, Ikejiani-Clark Street, Guzape, Abuja, FCT, Nigeria

New File No: RV 61825

R of O Date: 13/06/2018

9. Certificate No. 019228

Name: Babachir David Lawal

Address: 9B, Dabo Road, Barnawa, Kaduna, Kaduna State

New File No: AD 63010

R of O Date: 13/06/2018

10. Certificate No. 019252

Name: Boss Gida Mustapha

Address: 16, Iller Crescent, Maitama, Abuja, FCT, Nigeria

New File No: BO 63116

R of O Date: 13/06/2018