…As court orders status quo
FAVOUR ISHEMBER, Abuja
At least 15 individuals were arrested on Thursday and subsequently charged in court on Friday for continuing construction on vacant plots at River Park Estate in Lugbe, Abuja, despite the plots being reverted to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
The arrested suspects were reportedly workers of Paulo Homes, led by Mr. Paul Odili, and were taken into custody by the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) following a site raid by enforcement officers.
Recall that the FCTA had withdrawn lease agreements for these plots, citing breaches of the Development Lease Agreement (DLA). A ministerial committee, inaugurated by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike on August 8, 2025, recommended reverting undeveloped plots to the FCTA.
The committee’s report justified revocation due to expiration and breach of the DLA, referencing Clause 9.2 of the agreement.
Odili had refused FCTA invites, leading to confrontations; 15 workers were arrested and charged; Paul Odili, the developer, was also detained, and FCTA demolished over 30 substructures for planning regulation violations.
Also, an Abuja High Court ordered parties to maintain the status quo amid disputes.
The Chief Security Officer, CSO, to the FCT Minister, ACP Mohammed Iya, said the arrest had become necessary following his alleged threatening of Staff of the FCT Administration and attacks on the personality of the FCT Minister.
“Mr. Paulo was later released on administrative bail, citing that he had major surgery.
He is presently admitted at the National Hospital, Abuja. The matter is under investigation and is being handled by CP Sanusi, Commander IRT,” Iya stated in a message to our correspondent.
Meanwhile, the Director of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, who also confirmed the arrests, said the suspects would be prosecuted in court for violating ministerial directives.
“Even after being asked to leave the site and some of the excavations were covered, on Friday, we got a report that they were busy working behind the shopping center.
So we came this morning, saw the development, and again cleared the site. We also moved round the estate, marked several new sites, and cleared some of them.
We will return on Monday to continue with the operation,” he said.
Galadima explained that all vacant lands in the estate had been reverted to the FCTA following the expiration of the Development Lease Agreement and recommendations of a ministerial committee, but some developers had been working day and night to beat the directive.
Galadima had earlier warned that the administration would not tolerate further violations, stressing that prosecution would follow any fresh attempt to rebuild on the reverted plots.
“Over 30 foundations have been excavated, so we’re going to cover them all. Should there be a building again, then there’s going to be removal again,” he said.
The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had on August 8, 2025, inaugurated an ad-hoc committee on the review of controversies surrounding the River Park Estate.
The Barr. Salman Dako led committee while submitting its reports to the minister on September 2nd, explained that the revocation of the undeveloped plots was necessitated by the expiration and breach of the Development Lease Agreement (DLA) and the need to reassert administrative control over the affected plot in line with Clause 9.2 of the Development Lease Agreement (DLA).
The committee, however, directed that holders of previous “customary” titles whose plots fall within the Riverpark Estate boundaries and who have developed in accordance with applicable planning and development control regulations, “be permitted to retain their titles.
This recommendation aligns with the subsisting court judgment referenced in paragraph 16.3.
The FCTA emphasized compliance with planning regulations, with Director of Development Control Mukhtar Galadima warning against further violations, indicating potential prosecution for non-compliance.
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