Senate President Godswill Akpabio has explained why the red chamber cannot outrightly stop the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, from demolishing structures in the nation’s capital.
Akpabio, who explained that all demolitions could not be stopped because some were ordered by the courts, mandated the minister to continue with demolition of structures ordered by the courts in order not to be culpable of disobeying court orders.
Meanwhile, red chamber set up an investigative committee to look into the matter and report back to it within a specified timeframe
The Senate also resolved that all structures marked for demolition in the FCT, not ordered by the courts, should not be touched until its committee interfaces with the FCT minister and report back to the committee of the whole for further actions.
EKO HOT BLOG recalls that Wike has been criticised for embarking on widespread demolition of houses in Abuja.
A construction company had recently raised the alarm over a demolition notice issued by the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, to demolish its estate in the Lifecamp area of Abuja.
The General Manager of the Estate, Vincent Enoghase, who spoke to newsmen in Abuja said the FCDA had demanded N10 million, for a Right of Occupancy, which it had paid but was yet to get received before the issuance of the quit notice.
The Senator representing the FCT, Ireti Kingibe, on Thursday brought the matter before plenary, arguing that the demolitions were causing untold hardship to victims.
She pleaded with the Senate to intervene and halt further demolition of structures, including estates already marked.
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