FCT Minister, Wike Accused of Bias in Demolition of Anambra-born Estate Developer’s Investment

Chief Nicholas Ukachukwu, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the SNECOU Group Limited, has voiced his dismay over the demolition of his investment on 214 hectares of land in the Asokoro district of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Ukachukwu has directly accused the FCT Minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike, of ordering the demolition, alleging that it was motivated by ethnic bias.

The demolition, which took place without any court order, despite pending valid two court orders from separate courts restraining the minister and the FCT administration from tampering with the property, has sparked outrage. Witnesses report that the property, encompassing 214 hectares of land, was demolished in the presence of heavily armed security operatives, including soldiers, policemen, and personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

In an interview with AIT, Ukachukwu called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and safeguard the multi-million-naira investment in the property. He asserted that the demolition was not due to any violation of the law on their part, as all legal titles had been duly obtained before commencing development.

Ukachukwu further alleged that Minister Wike’s bias was evident during a meeting where he purportedly exclaimed, “how will they take all this land and give it to an Igbo man?” before ordering the demolition without a court order.

According to Ukachukwu, all legal titles of the property had been obtained, including two ministerial approvals and letters from the immediate past FCT Minister, Mohammed Musa Bello. Despite this, the property was ruthlessly demolished, leaving behind a heap of rubble.

The estate developer emphasized that the minister’s actions contravened two pending court orders restraining any action by the FCT on the land. He called on President Tinubu to intervene and protect the rights of genuine investors and businessmen, urging swift action to address the injustice.

However, when contacted for a reaction, the spokesman for the FCT Administration, Mr. Tony Ogunleye, expressed ignorance about the details of the demolition. He reiterated that the FCT Administration does not demolish properties based on ethnic or regional considerations and promised to investigate the matter thoroughly.