FG panel uncovers land fraud in Abuja

The Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of
Public Property (SPIP) said it has uncovered fraudulent practices
in land allocation in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The panel said the Federal Government has lost huge funds to the
fraudulent practices where parcels of land are allocated for mass
housing projects without the necessary payments made.

SPIP said findings by its investigative team revealed that, as
at June this year, over 300 parcels of land were allocated for mass
housing projects, but that 79 per cent of the beneficiaries “have
not complied with statutory requirements and payments.”

SPIP Chairman, Okoi Obono-Obla disclosed these during a visit to
the Minister of the FCT, where he sought the Minister’s support for
his panel’s planned public hearing on the issue.

Obono-Obla said: “It may interest you to know that the panel is
here to discuss issues concerning fraudulent leasing of land for
mass housing development resulting in the non-payment of rates and
fees amounting to billions of naira.

“The panel, in the course of discharging its mandate, received
intelligence on fraudulent leasing of land for mass housing
development which has resulted in non-payment of rates and fees
amounting to billions of naira.

“Analysis of documents collected and collated in the course of
investigation activities revealed as follows: As at June, 2018 over
300 mass housing lands were leased to developers.

“Only 252 developers leased mass housing lands have reported and
documented with the Department of Mass Housing. Only 71 sites have
been inspected.

“Only 64 developers have completed and signed lease agreements.
79% of the developers that benefited from Mass Housing Land leases
have not complied with statutory requirements and payments.

“From 2010 to June, 2018, the total fees collected amounted to
N1, 086, 750, 000 only. This falls far short of the amount that
ought to have been realised by the FCT.

“Moving forward and in consonance with the Recovery of Public
Property (Special Provisions) Act, 2004, the non-compliance of the
beneficiaries of mass housing leases to statutory requirement is an
act of economic adversity.

“Therefore there is the need to recover the outstanding public
funds,” Obono-Obla said.