Property owners still defaulting in ground rent payment will have to brace up for tougher times in the incoming year, as the Federal Capital Territory Administration said it will soon commence mass prosecution of defaulters.
According to the Coordinating Committee on the Recovery of Outstanding Ground Rent and Other Related Charges in the FCT, massive legal action (court cases), will begin in the first quarter of 2023 to ensure that all debtors are brought to face justice and perhaps, have their property forfeited.
Chairman of the Media and Publicity Sub-Committee, Muhammad Sule, said the information is to serve as a last reminder in the outgoing year and also form the basis for what defaulters should expect as we prepare to usher in year 2023.
He said since some of the ground rent debtors are recalcitrant in paying their prescribed fees, the committee has no other option than to take this legal procedure, which might culminate into final confiscation of the affected property.
Sule, in a statement on Wednesday, explained that the committee intends to consider publishing names of all those, who have refused to honor their statutory obligation by clearing their outstanding liabilities, especially those whose cases are before the appropriate court of law.
“The publication of the names of the debtors already charged to court, the Committee believes will send a strong message to other defaulters that the FCT Administration is determined to recover the huge debt owed it by property owners in the Territory.
“It will be recall that caveat has also been placed to deny such titleholders access to the property, and eventually forfeit same to the government.
“Accordingly, the caveat formally placed is expected to safeguard such properties from being tampered with, especially by attempting to sell or transfer ownership, because the matter is being heard in court.
“The forfeiture of the property of those that refused to clear their debts is also of importance to the FCT Administration, because such actions will serve as deterrent to all those recalcitrant to honor their obligations.
“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.”
