N29bn Debt: FCTA To Place Caveat On Debtors’ Property

Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has taken another step towards recovering the huge debt owed by property owners in the FCT by placing caveats on the affected properties whose cases are already in court.

In a statement signed by Muhammad Hazat Sule, director of Information and Communication, FCT/chairman, Media, and Publicity Sub-Committee, the caveat would prevent such titleholders from accessing the property and eventually they would forfeit same to the government.

Sule said the administration would continue with the prosecution of defaulters in courts preparatory to obtaining a court order for the forfeiture of the affected properties.

“Accordingly, the caveat formally placed will also safeguard such properties from being tampered with, especially by attempting to sell or transfer ownership, because the matter is being heard in court.

“The implication is that a caveat when placed on any property, whether developed or undeveloped, and even, if ground rent fully cleared, a written application must be submitted, and approval obtained before it can be lifted.

“The FCT Administration is determined to recover all Ground Rent debts owed by property owners in Abuja, and all necessary procedures will be followed to achieve this,” he said.

He further said that since the administration has commenced prosecution of the defaulting titleholders despite several appeals from the FCT administration, the only thing that would stop the progression of this was for defaulters to clear their outstanding debts.