Buhari
I’m not owner of seized Abuja land, says ex-President Buhari
Former President Muhammadu Buhari has denied ownership of a plot of land reportedly seized by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) in Abuja.
In a statement issued on Friday by his former spokesman, Garba Shehu, it was clarified that Buhari has no personal connection to the said property.
According to Shehu, “There has been significant media buzz about the reported seizure of a piece of land in Abuja by the FCTA, allegedly belonging to former President Muhammadu Buhari. However, the former president does not personally own the land in question, which was allocated to a ‘Muhammadu Buhari Foundation.’”
He said the foundation was established by some well-meaning individuals close to Buhari, who conducted their activities lawfully and received support from others.
However, the group encountered challenges with the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), which issued an unusually high bill for the certificate of occupancy—far higher than those given to similar organizations.
“This may not have been an error but a deliberate act, making the eventual revocation of the land allocation unsurprising,” Shehu explained.
He further emphasized that Buhari himself owns only one plot of land in Abuja, which he acquired prior to his presidency. During his tenure, when government officials, including himself, were offered the opportunity to apply for land, Buhari declined, stating that he already owned a plot and that priority should be given to those without land.
“Those speculating or criticizing the reported land seizure should verify the facts and stop tarnishing the former president’s name,” he said.