More than 50 land allottees in Mpape II Layout, Abuja, have dragged the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and other officials before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory over alleged unlawful revocation of their land allocations and encroachment on their properties by military-linked developers.
The claimants are seeking declarations affirming the validity of their land allocations, orders restraining further interference with their properties and N700 million in damages over what they describe as the illegal takeover and attempted resale of their plots.
They allege that the disputed actions involved the FCT Minister, the FCDA, the Director of Development Control of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) and certain FCDA directors, who allegedly cancelled or reallocated the plots in 2026 without following the prescribed legal procedures.
According to the allottees, the alleged revocations paved the way for operators of NAF Bomo Estate Promo, also known as NAF Bomo Hilltop Estate, to enter the land, erect structures, install signboards, excavate portions of the properties and market them for sale.
They further allege that Naval Building and Construction Limited, which they link to the Nigerian Navy, has also entered the disputed land and participated in activities they consider unlawful encroachment.
The allegations are contained in documents relating to the court action and a statement issued by the affected landowners.
The claims have yet to be established in court, while the authorities and companies accused have not publicly responded to the specific allegations.
The substantive suit, registered as FCT/CV/4139/2026, is before the High Court of the FCT, Abuja. An application for an interlocutory injunction is also pending in Suit No. M/3797/2026.
The claimants want the court to declare that their allocations remain valid and that any purported revocation is null and void.
They are also seeking perpetual injunctions against further interference, recognition of their interests in the properties and cancellation of any subsequent grants made to the alleged trespassers.
John Zira is leading the claimants in a representative capacity on behalf of the affected FCTA allottees in the layout.
Other representative parties identified in the materials are Salisu Mohammed, Alfa Global Auto Centre Limited and Ismailia Drikrullah.
Among the named allottees are Tanko Pmabi, who holds an allocation for Plot E109E measuring 4,000 square metres; Prime Business, allocated Plot E119A measuring one hectare; Samuel Shayo, whose Plot E111F measures 1,900 square metres; Baffalo Shakatafi, allocated Plot E111D measuring 4,700 square metres; and Kefas Mai Rogo, whose Plot E111C measures 2,000 square metres.
Others include Damisa, allocated Plot E110G measuring 2,100 square metres; Ahmad Mai Jama, whose Plot E111B measures 6,500 square metres; Micheal Jezhi Adams, allocated Plot E108E measuring 5,400 square metres; Shekwolo Shapami, whose Plot E109G measures 4,000 square metres; and Alfa Global, allocated Plot E110cc measuring one hectare.
The landowners say they possess Offers of Terms of Grant/Occupancy, technical data plans, Area Council receipts, regularisation documents and a confirmation letter from the Director of Urban and Regional Planning indicating that the plots form part of the approved layout.
They maintain that they have remained in peaceful possession of their properties and paid the applicable statutory charges, insisting that the documents support their claims to the disputed land.
However, they allege that the relevant authorities proceeded to cancel or reallocate the plots without serving the formal notices of revocation required under the applicable land laws.
The allottees also contend that the alleged actions were not justified by any overriding public interest and that no compensation was paid for the purported acquisition of their interests.
They say the subsequent entry of the estate operators and other developers has deprived them of the ability to develop their properties, pursue planned investments or exercise their claimed rights without interference.
According to the claimants, the alleged activities have continued despite formal demands that the authorities recognise their allocations and restore their peaceful possession of the land.
They argue that the actions violate the Land Use Act and Section 44 of the 1999 Constitution, which provides safeguards against compulsory acquisition of property except in accordance with the law and subject to applicable constitutional requirements.
The landowners say they have suffered inconvenience, emotional distress and lost development opportunities as a result of the dispute.
They are asking the court to determine the validity of their allocations, the legality of any purported revocations and the rights of parties claiming interests in the same plots.
Their demand for N700 million in damages is in addition to costs and other reliefs sought in the proceedings.
Samuel Ihensekhien-Junior, human rights lawyer, legal representative, noted that allottees have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene and order a comprehensive investigation into the roles allegedly played by the FCT Minister, the FCDA, AMMC Development Control, implicated directors, Air Force personnel, Naval Building and Construction Limited and the operators of NAF Bomo Estate.
They urged the Federal Government to ensure that the dispute is addressed in accordance with the law and that the property rights of citizens are protected.
