A legal practitioner, Matthew Onoja, has called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, to protect a disputed green area in Kado Estate, Abuja. Onoja represents Hongye International Nigeria Limited, a lessee of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), which is facing an attempt to take possession of the property despite a pending court case over the land.
The dispute arose after the purported allocation of the same property to another party, which Onoja described as unusual. His client had petitioned the IGP, seeking an investigation into how the property could have been allocated to another party while Hongye remained in possession. The police investigation is ongoing, but Onoja alleged that an attempt was made to take possession of the property, with men arriving at the site with equipment and bulldozers, removing structures and installations.
Onoja informed the police and wrote to the Development Control Unit of the FCTA, notifying the authority that there was a dispute over the land and that the matter was already before the court. Despite the pending case and notifications to the relevant authorities, the men returned to the property, destroying the perimeter fence, felling trees, and pulling down installations. Onoja alleged that the men arrived in marked pickup trucks, some of whom were armed, and told him he had no right to question them.
The lawyer argued that even where ownership or occupation of land is disputed, the affected party should not be dispossessed without due process. He stressed that his client was a lawful occupant and demanded that the parties maintain the status quo pending the determination of the dispute. Onoja urged the FCT Minister and the IGP to intervene and ensure that the parties maintain the status quo until the rights of the parties in court are decided.
Executive Director of Grassroots Centre for Rights and Civic Orientation, Armsfree Ajanaku, expressed concerns over the protection of Abuja's green spaces, stating that the conversion of such spaces for development could undermine the city's environmental planning. Ajanaku warned that uncontrolled development could lead to environmental degradation, health issues, and decreased wellbeing of residents. He linked his concerns to recent flooding in the FCT, calling for any development allegedly encroaching on designated green areas to be halted.
Ajanaku also raised concerns about the presence of several people at the property during the operation, alleging that some appeared to be armed, while uniformed police officers were also present. He urged the authorities to uphold due process in resolving the dispute and protect Abuja's designated green areas from unauthorised development. The case is scheduled for hearing in October 2026.
The dispute has sparked concerns over the protection of Abuja's environmental plan, with the civil society organization and the lawyer calling for urgent intervention to prevent further degradation of the city's green spaces. The FCT Minister and the IGP have been urged to take action to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the dispute.
Key points
- The dispute is over a green area in Abuja's Kado Estate.
- A lawyer and a civil society organization are urging authorities to intervene.
- The case is scheduled for hearing in October 2026.
