The Nigerian Senate Thursday directed the minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike to immediately stop all ongoing property demolitions in Abuja.
This resolution followed a motion raised by Senator Ireti Kingibe (LP – FCT) during plenary, which was seconded by Senator Natasha Akpabio-Uduaghan (PDP – Kogi Central). over alleged irregularities and hardships caused by Wike’s controversial demolitions.
Senator Kingibe took exception to the massive demolitions, saying they were carried out without due process.
She stressed that affected individuals had suffered immense losses due to demolitions that appeared unjustified.
Senator Kingibe said, “In recent times, the demolition exercise in the FCT was no longer based on reasons that necessitated the demolition. A cross-section of individuals have suffered untold hardships occasioned by massive demolition, which has led to a loss of properties worth billions of naira.”
She pointed out the ongoing revocation and demolition of Messrs Paulosa Estate, chaired by the late Colonel Paul Osakpawan Ogbebor.
According to her, the land had been properly allocated to him in 1984, with all requisite documentation.
She urged the Senate to resolve that demolitions should only proceed in line with due process and called for an investigation into the matter.
Based on this, the Senate summoned the minister to appear before an ad hoc committee formed to investigate the demolition activities.
The committee, chaired by Deputy Senate President Senator Jibrin Barau, has been given two weeks to submit its findings.
The committee comprises notable senators, including Deputy Senate Leader Senator Oyelola Ashir, Chief Whip Senator Tahir Monguno, and others.
While reading the resolution, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, emphasised the importance of halting demolitions until proper investigations are conducted.
He said, “The Senate urges the Federal Capital Development Authority to stop further demolitions of structures, except those ordered by courts of competent jurisdiction, until the ad hoc committee concludes its investigation and interfaces with the FCT administration within the next two weeks.”
However, during the debate on the matter, Senator Karimi Sunday (APC – Kogi West) argued against halting demolitions without first hearing from the FCT minister.
He argued, “We need to investigate this matter before giving any directive. We must hear from the minister. You cannot shave a man’s head at his back.”
But Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire (APC – Ondo Central), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters, was not persuaded.
According to him, it was important to avoid irreversible actions during the investigation.
“Are we saying that we should allow the place to be demolished while we are trying to look into it? What is fair is to say stop the situation today and let us investigate,” Adegbonmire said.
The senate president supported Adegbonmire. “If we just say, continue the demolition, and then we start investigating, what are we then investigating? It’s important for us to ensure that demolitions are in the best interest of Nigerians and follow proper procedures,” Akpabio said.
Meanwhile, Wike doubled down on Thursday, saying the demolitions will continue and no amount of blackmail will change anything.
cpcnews.org 