The House of Representatives has ordered the arrest of the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCTA), Mr. Richard Dauda, over the alleged breach of building code in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The House, via its Committee on Public Petition on Thursday, also ordered the arrest of the Director, Department of Development Control (FCTA), Mr. Muktar Galadima and the Director of Regional Planning of the FCT.

The Chairman of the Committee, Mike Etaba, during proceedings, explained that the decision to issue the warrant of arrest on the aforementioned officials was in tandem with the extant provision of the Legislative Houses Powers and Privileges Act 2017.

The committee thereby directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Kayode Egbetekun, to not only ensure the arrest of the aforementioned officials but compel them to appear before the committee on the 28th of this month to explain their role in the committal of the alleged infraction.

Etaba explained that he was left with no option but to summon the FCDA officials after they deliberately shunned the summons of the committee on Tuesday and Thursday this week.

Etaba, who later led members of the committee to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the building site in Guzape, disclosed that the FCDA officials would surely be compelled to produce documents required to ascertain the veracity of the claim of the petitioner.

“We had a petition that was brought before us by a Nigerian citizen in the course of the investigation. FCDA has refused to come and tender the 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 landmark, the cantilever that the complainant who is a Nigerian, 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 guidelines 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.”

The Committee on Tuesday adopted the petition on the issue regarding plot AO9399 cadastral zone filed by the chairman of the House Committee on Customs, Elder Leke Abejide.

Counsel to Abejide, Mr. Samuel Ajayi explained that the petition before the House committee was in respect of the development of 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 that trespassed into the rights of my client. We are urging the appropriate authority to take appropriate steps to address the issue,” he said.