By Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA – The management of a 42-year-old estate in Abuja has raised the alarm over the Federal Capital Development Authority’s (FCDA) plan to demolish the property, despite its longstanding presence.

The estate, originally developed by the late Col. Paul Ogbebor, a key figure in the creation of Abuja, is valued at N3.5 billion.

At a press briefing in Abuja, Vincent Enoghase, General Manager of the estate, revealed that the FCDA had issued a demolition notice, citing claims that the buildings were dilapidated and uninhabitable.

However, Enoghase disputed these claims, stating that the family had been in the process of securing the Certificate of Occupancy and Right of Occupancy from the FCT administration.

He confirmed that the family had already deposited ₦10 million of the required ₦42 million to complete the process.

Enoghase further alleged that the estate had been secretly reallocated to another company after the FCDA’s refusal to grant the family the necessary documents.

He emphasised that the family had not violated any laws to justify the demolition and reallocation, suggesting that other undisclosed interests may be behind the move.

The estate management also raised doubts about the FCDA’s claims regarding the condition of the buildings, asserting that the properties were well-maintained and the alleged dilapidation was untrue.

They revealed that a court order had temporarily halted the demolition, but despite this, the FCDA issued another letter demanding the family vacate the property within 24 hours.

“Now the FCT Development Control is telling us to quit and that they want to pull down the structure. They sent us the papers last week.

“We quickly went to court and we got an order restraining them from doing anything. This morning the FCT Development Control sent another letter, giving us 24 hours to vacate the place for demolition.

“We believe that somebody somewhere is doing funny things to take over the place. Another story we are getting again is that they have allocated that place to somebody else. They have given the person Certificate of Occupancy and Right of Occupancy within two to three weeks,” Enoghase lamented.

These concerns were further echoed by a son of the late Colonel, Ikponmwosa Paul Ogbebor, who expressed frustration over what he described as a betrayal of his father’s legacy.

He appealed to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to intervene in the matter, stressing that the family had occupied the property long before the development of other prominent areas in Abuja, such as Transcorp Hilton and Maitama.

“My late father (Ogbebor) is part and parcel of the creation of Abuja. We have had tenants living in that property for over 30 years and 80% are expatriates. They call it home,” he stated.