Fresh facts emerged that the plots within the 572 housing units in the Minanuel Estate in Abuja demolished in 2012 by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) may have been reallocated to senators and House of Representatives members in the 7th Assembly.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West), disclosed the facts during the hearing of a petition written by Falana & Falana Chambers on behalf of Minanuel Investment Limited, forwarded to the committee.
Melaye said preliminary investigations by his Committee had revealed the plots of land were reallocated to Senators and Reps who served in the 7th National Assembly. “Our findings have shown that the plots of land were reallocated to members of the FCT Committees at both the Senate and House of Representatives in the last Assembly. It is unfortunate that the members of the committee became the beneficiaries of the plots. You destroyed the 572 houses and allocated it to Senators and Reps. This is not acceptable, we will investigate it and we will order the revocation of the lands. The Senators act is criminal and absurd,” he said. The Director of Lands in the FCDA, Mainasara,” he said
The Melaye alleged during the hearing of a petition written by Falana & Falana Chambers on behalf of Minanuel Investment Limited, forwarded to the committee. Melaye said preliminary investigations by his Committee had revealed the plots of land were reallocated to Senators and Reps who served in the 7th National Assembly. He said, “Our findings have shown that the plots of land were reallocated to members of the FCT Committees at both the Senate and House of Representatives in the last Assembly. It is unfortunate that the members of the committee became the beneficiaries of the plots. He however, didn’t mention the names of the beneficiaries.
Earlier, while speaking on behalf of the petitioners, Sam Ogala of Falana & Falana Chambers said the 572 housing units were completed before the FCDA demolished it. The Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) had in 2012 demolished the housing units situated along Abuja Airport belonging to Minanuel Investment Limited. The Director of Lands in the FCDA, Mainasara Babayo confirmed that the plots had been reallocated.
The demolition had attracted public outcry. For instance, the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) expressed dissatisfaction over the demolition of N3billion worth of housing units. The association described the development as a huge economic loss for the country, which is faced with over 17 million housing deficit.
