Joseph Ona & Anor. — Defendant/Applicant v. Allaji Diga Romai Atenda — Plaintiff/Respondent (2000) 5 NWLR (Part 656) 244

Abstract

Introduction

In 1976, the Federal Capital Territory Act hereinafter called "FCT Act" was enacted to establish for Nigeria, a Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Section 1(3) of the FCT Act provides that as from the commencement of the Act, the areas contained in the Capital Territory shall cease to be a portion of the state concerned and shall henceforth be governed and administered by or under the control of the Government of the Federation to the exclusion of any other person or authority whatsoever and the ownership of the lands comprised in the Federal Capital Territory shall likewise rest absolutely in the Government of the Federation. Thus, by this Act, the Land Tenure Law which was applicable in all the (Northern) States from which the Federal Capital Territory was carved out ceased to be applicable; also private land holding within the area covered by the Territory ceased. This was the setting when the Land Use Act was enacted and became operative on the 29th March, 1978.