Estate Developer Seeks Tinubu’s Intervention Over Illegal Demolition Of Properties In Abuja

An appeal has been made to President Bola Tinubu to investigate the destruction of some Abuja properties.

Engineer Success Obioma, the CEO of three companies, Praco International Ltd, Psalm 127 Ltd, and Peace Be Still Ltd, in an appeal over the weekend, called for President Bola Tinubu’s immediate intervention over the demolition of his multibillion naira property in Abuja.

Obioma stated that the properties were developed in order to meet the housing needs of the masses in the FCT, noting that he has acquired, developed, and managed properties for numerous clients in the FCT, including high-profile Nigerians and political figures.

The real estate developer, who claimed unjust persecution from perceived detractors, claimed the authority was misled into demolishing some of his properties by seizing all of his documents and titles and destroying property worth billions of naira.

The engineer, who told journalists in Abuja about his ordeal and how his dream was shattered, claimed he had lost more than N10 billion due to demolition by the Federal Capital Territory Authority.

Obioma stated that he was incarcerated for more than two years in order to obtain justice for the illegal demolition of his and his clients’ properties.

He also lamented how the FCTA authority had humiliated and frustrated him for over 20 years by seizing title documents and destroying multibillion naira property, as well as incarcerating him for more than two years, with no hope of relief from the authority’s unjust persecution.

Obioma, who claimed to have obtained relief through a court judgement regarding the release of his title documents, stated that FCT Minister Nyesom Wike should be aware that the restoration of his title documents followed due process and that he should release or restore the remaining seized documents.

He stated that the FCTA committee, which was directed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, cleared him of all allegations of possessing fake land documents.

He claimed that no victim of his alleged illegal land deals could be brought forward to testify for the entire 20-year period of the case.

He stated that the committee was made up of all FCTA department heads, directors, and management staff because they were looking for fake documents, “as was speculated by enemies of progress that I forge land documents to acquire lands.” It provided me with an opportunity to demonstrate my integrity as a businessman.

“They could not produce a single victim of my illegal land deals to testify during the 20-year investigation.”

He urged the FCT minister to publish the 2002 committee report and the documents seized from him so that the world could see whether they were fakes or originals.

He also stated, “The minister should ask the members of that committee who are still in service to explain how I was screened, my activities screened, and documents verified, and they were unable to identify that there were no ministerial approvals covering over 200 plots linked to me.

“As a lawyer, he should also study the Federal High Court judgement to see that the EFCC and their collaborators went to great lengths to prove their informants wrong.

“H.E. Nyesom Wike should be informed that the restoration of my title documents was carried out in accordance with due process, and he should release or restore any remaining seized documents.”

Obioma stated that this was necessary because his life was being threatened by his clients, who believed he had sold their land.

He stated, “Yes, my life is under threat from those whose properties have not been restored. Most of them have been waiting since 2003, and now that they have been acquitted by a court of competent jurisdiction, what else is holding their documents? They have accused me of selling them.

The developer, who is currently in London to complete the PhD programme he abandoned since 2003, said he was ready to suspend it to pave the way for resolution of the issue.

He stated, “Yes, I am not in the country, but I am willing to suspend what I am doing here to come if the minister requires my attention to resolve the confusion caused by the demolition.”

He suggested that: “The demolition gale should be checked so that investors do not lose interest in FCT.“