Former President Muhammadu Buhari rejected an offer to receive a plot of land in Abuja when he, along with members of his cabinet, were contacted to complete an application.
This was revealed by his spokesperson, Garba Shehu, in response to media reports claiming that the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA) had seized land allegedly belonging to the former president.
In a clarification issued on Thursday to dispel misconceptions, Shehu stated that during Buhari's presidency, when he and members of his cabinet were invited to apply for land in Abuja, Buhari rejected the offer.
Instead, he returned the forms uncompleted, explaining that he already owned land in the city and that priority should be given to those without land.
“Buhari’s rejection of the land offer underlines his character and simplicity. He made it clear that he did not need more land and others should benefit,” Shehu added.
According to Shehu, the former president is not the owner of the land in question, which is registered under the “Muhammad Buhari Foundation”.
Shehu explained that the Muhammadu Buhari Foundation, a charity set up by people close to Buhari, faced bureaucratic challenges in the land acquisition process.
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Despite following legal procedures, the Foundation faced exorbitant charges from the FCT authorities for the issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy.
Shehu noted that the cost was unusually high compared to similar organizations, raising questions about whether the billing was a genuine mistake or a deliberate act.
“The revocation of the land allocated to the Muhammadu Buhari Foundation is not a surprise, given the challenges faced during the process,” Shehu said.
He further clarified that Muhammadu Buhari, as an individual, has never been involved in any controversial land allocation in the FCT.
The clarification aims to address what Shehu described as “wrong narratives” circulating in the media and on digital platforms.
He urged commentators to check the facts before making unfounded claims that tarnish the former president's reputation.
“Buhari’s name should not be dragged into unwarranted controversies. The land in question does not belong to him personally, but to a foundation that bears his name and that seeks to do good for the public,” Shehu concluded.
This statement comes amid widespread public interest in the published names of beneficiaries whose land parcels were revoked by FCT authorities for failure to pay their Certificate of Occupation (CofO).