- As Red Chamber Summons FCT Minister
By Kolawole Ojebisi
The Senate has directed Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to suspend the widespread demolition of buildings, except those ordered by court, taking place at his behest in Abuja.
The decision of the red chamber was sequel to a motion sponsored by Ireti Kingibe, senator representing FCT.
The motion was seconded by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) saying the exercise should be stopped pending the outcome of the Senate investigation into the matter.
In his remarks, the Senate President, Godwswill Akpabio, said the Senate cannot prevent Wike outright from demolishing structures in the nation’s capital.
The Senate President, however, explained that all demolitions could not be stopped because the courts ordered some.
He said, “The minister would continue with the demolition of structures ordered by the courts in order not to be culpable of disobeying court orders.”
In recent months, the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), under the leadership of Wike, has allegedly intensified the demolition of “illegally” constructed estates and shanties in the FCT.
The minister had said some of the shanties posed threats to the security of the nation’s capital.
Also as part of its resolutions to probe the demolition sprees embarked on by Wike, the senate set up an ad hoc committee led by Barau Jibrin, deputy senate president, to investigate the matter.
The FCT minister is expected to appear before the committee to answer questions about the demolitions that have rendered many people homeless in the nation’s capital.
Recently, Rita Lori-Ogbebor, chief executive officer of Rita Lori Hotels, revealed that the FCDA revoked a parcel of land in the Life Camp area of Abuja.
The land, she said, belonged to the late Col Abuja I Paul Ogbebor, a retired colonel and her former husband.
Lori-Ogbebor has since asked President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the situation, adding that the parcel of land has been in her family for decades.
