Demolition: Why we can’t stop Wike— Godswill Akpabio
Senate President Godswill Akpabio clarified on Thursday why the Senate cannot completely halt the ongoing demolitions of structures in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike. While acknowledging the public outcry and distress caused by the demolitions, Akpabio emphasized that some of these actions are court-ordered and must be executed to avoid violating judicial mandates.
The issue gained attention following a notice issued by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to demolish an estate in the Lifecamp area of Abuja. The estate’s management, Paullosa Nigeria Limited, alleged that despite paying N10 million for a Right of Occupancy, the document was not issued before the demolition notice was served. Vincent Enoghase, the estate’s General Manager, expressed frustration during a press briefing in Abuja, calling for intervention.
On Wednesday, social media commentator Vincent Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, claimed in a viral video that the FCT Minister revoked the estate’s land titles and reassigned them to another company, Saravera Nigeria Limited, and Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda of the House of Representatives. Otse urged security agencies to investigate, pointing out that the land’s original owner was a retired Nigerian Army cadet who passed away four years ago.
Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the FCT, brought the matter before the Senate during plenary.
She highlighted the hardship faced by affected residents and urged the chamber to intervene to halt demolitions, particularly those targeting residential estates. Supporting her motion, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) called for a temporary suspension of all demolitions until a Senate investigation is completed.
In response, Akpabio instructed that only demolitions mandated by court orders should proceed. He added, “Demolitions ordered by the courts cannot be stopped to avoid disobeying judicial rulings.”
To address broader concerns, the Senate established a nine-member ad hoc committee to investigate the legality and fairness of the demolition exercise. The committee was tasked with summoning Wike for clarification and assessing whether the demolitions align with due process.
According to the information obtained by dailytrust, The Senate also resolved that any structures not affected by court rulings should remain untouched until the committee submits its findings. The FCT Minister will be required to present his case before the committee, with the Senate expected to review the report before deciding on further action.