A staff member of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Mairiga Hassan Shahru, serving in the Department of Land Administration, has come under fire over the alleged unauthorized disclosure of sensitive government documents. Shahru was reportedly issued a formal query before being arrested and detained by security authorities.
Confirming the development, the Commissioner of Police for the FCT, Adewale Ajao, stated that Shahru was indeed taken into custody and may face prosecution in court. However, sources say he has since been granted bail.
While Daily Trust could not independently verify the precise details that triggered the disciplinary and legal actions, multiple insiders allege that Shahru may have leaked a Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) document purportedly linked to land allocated to the sons of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
In response to these claims, Minister Wike publicly denied any such allocations during a live media briefing held on Thursday. He attributed the rumor to political mischief allegedly orchestrated by an unnamed individual from Adamawa State. Similarly, his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications, Lere Olayinka, had earlier dismissed the land allocation allegations as baseless.
A document now circulating online titled “Letter of Query” and addressed to Shahru outlines the accusations against him. The query, referencing official document number FCT/DLA/189 and dated July 4, 2025, was signed by the Acting Director of Land Administration, Uzo Udegbunam J. It accuses Shahru of committing grave infractions under Nigeria’s Public Service Rules (PSR), including:
- Unauthorized release of official information to individuals without clearance — violating PSR 100401 and 100402(j);
- Breach of the official oath of secrecy taken upon employment, in contravention of PSR 100402(o);
- Conduct deemed inappropriate for a public officer under PSR 100402(aa), potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of his role.
The letter demanded that Shahru submit a written explanation within 24 hours justifying why disciplinary action should not be initiated against him.
Tension Mounts in Land Administration Department
Several staff members within the FCTA’s Land Administration Department have confirmed Shahru’s arrest, stating that it has created a palpable sense of unease among workers. Speaking under conditions of anonymity, some employees revealed that there is heightened surveillance and managerial oversight since the incident occurred.
“The mood here is tense. Everyone is walking on eggshells,” one staff member disclosed. “There’s a clear increase in monitoring from the top, and no one wants to be the next in the spotlight.”
As investigations continue, all eyes remain on the FCTA and how it handles this high-profile case, which touches on both internal information security and broader concerns over transparency in government land allocations.
Source: Daily Trust
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