Reps Order Arrest of FCDA Officials Over Alleged Building Code

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By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has directed the arrest of the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Richard Dauda, over alleged violations of building regulations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

This directive, issued by the House Committee on Public Petitions on Thursday, also includes the arrest of Muktar Galadima, Director of Development Control (FCTA), and the Director of Regional Planning.

Committee Chairman, Rep. Mike Etaba, stated that the decision aligns with the Legislative Houses Powers and Privileges Act of 2017.

Etaba mandated the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to ensure the officials are apprehended and brought before the committee on March 28th to address the allegations.

He noted that the warrant became necessary after the officials repeatedly ignored invitations to appear before the committee earlier in the week.

During an on-site inspection of the disputed building in Guzape, Etaba affirmed that the FCDA officials would be compelled to provide the necessary documents to verify the claims made by the petitioner.

Said he: “We had a petition that was brought before us by a Nigerian citizen in the course of investigation FCDA has refused to come and tender documents necessary for us to proceed with this investigation. But for today we have come to the site where the petition is referring to.

“We have looked at the building plans and the engineer in site who we met known as Mr. Emmanuel who we met told the committee that there is no approved building plan with him right now. We have looked at the structure, the land mark, the cantilever that the complainant who is a Nigerian that has a right to his security and safety.

“We have looked at it and we would go back to the committee and ask for more documents most especially the approved plan so that the FCDA would be able to explain to us the guideline they gave for this building to be able to determine what is actually good for this site and let Nigerians living around here have their peace.we are here to do justice to everybody”.

Naijablitznews.com recalled that the Committee had at its proceedings on Tuesday adopted the petition on the issue regarding plot AO9399 cadastral zone filed by the chairman of the House committee on Custom, Elder Leke Abejide.

Counsel to Abejide, Mr. Samuel Ajayi had explained that the petition before the House committee was in respect of the development on a property at AO9399 Cadestral zone, allegedly contravening the building code of the FCT.

“We have a complain in respect to a building going on there in Guzape which trespassed into the rights of my client. We are urging the appropriate authority to take appropriate step address the issue,” he said.