N29BN GROUND RENT DEBT: FCTA HIRES FIVE LAW FIRMS

By: Prudence Okonna & Ben Ukeji

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has hired the services of five law firms to prosecute defaulters of N29 billion Ground Rents owed the FCTA.

The statement signed by Director, Information & Communication, FCT / Chairman, Media & Publicity Sub-Committee, Muhammad Hazat Sule, revealed that the Committee has met severally with the representatives of the law firms, mostly Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), who have been tasked with preparing legal documents to commence full legal fireworks against the defaulting titleholders.

Consequently, letters serving as last warning to such defaulters are being dispatched, as the government is committed to recovering every dime owed the Administration.

It may be recalled that the FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr. Adesola Olusade recently inaugurated a debt recovery committee with the mandate to recover the outstanding debts owed to the FCT Administration with a particular interest in ground rents and other sundry fees in the Land Administration as well as other Land related departments.

The Committee has therefore emphasized that it is poised to take advantage of this robust partnership with these highly professional legal firms in Abuja with the hope of prosecuting multiple cases arising from recovery processes.

While emphasizing that it is not going to be business as usual, the committee said it is beaming its searchlight on all defaulters and has urged title holders to clear their outstanding debts.