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The House of Representatives has directed Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun to arrest the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Mr. Richard Dauda, over an alleged breach of building codes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Also facing arrest are the Director of Development Control (FCTA), Mr. Muktar Galadima, and the Director of Regional Planning, following an order issued by the House Committee on Public Petitions on Thursday.
Chairman of the committee, Hon. Mike Etaba, explained that the decision to issue the arrest warrant aligns with the Legislative Houses Powers and Privileges Act, 2017. He directed the IGP to ensure the officials are arrested and compelled to appear before the committee on March 28 to clarify their roles in the alleged violation.
Etaba stated that the officials had been repeatedly invited to appear before the committee on Tuesday and Thursday but deliberately ignored the summons, leaving lawmakers with no choice but to invoke their legal authority.
Following the arrest order, Etaba led committee members to an on-the-spot assessment of the contested building site in Guzape. During the inspection, Mr. Emmanuel, the site engineer, admitted that he had no approved building plan on-site.
Etaba emphasized that the committee would demand further documentation from the FCDA to verify whether the development adhered to approved guidelines.
“A petition was brought before us by a Nigerian citizen, and despite multiple invitations, FCDA officials have refused to provide the necessary documents for our investigation,” he said. “We inspected the site and noted several structural concerns, including cantilever extensions affecting the complainant’s safety and security.”
“Our next step is to request the approved building plan to determine whether the FCDA granted proper approvals and ensure that residents in this area can live in peace. Our mission is to deliver justice to all parties involved.”
The investigation stems from a petition adopted by the committee on Tuesday, concerning plot AO9399 in the Cadastral Zone. The complaint was filed by hon.Leke Abejide, Chairman of the House Committee on Customs, through his legal counsel, Mr. Samuel Ajayi.
Ajayi alleged that ongoing construction on the plot violated FCT building codes and infringed upon his client’s property rights.
“We have a complaint regarding a building in Guzape that has trespassed into my client’s rights,” Ajayi stated. “We are urging the appropriate authorities to take immediate steps to address this issue.”
The committee’s next hearing on the matter is set for March 28, where the arrested officials will be required to provide full disclosure on the controversial project.
