By Stanley Onyekwere
Officials of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) disowned a developer, Prince Joseph Kpokpogiri, whose Multi- Million Naira Mansion in Abuja, was demolished by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA)
The FHA officials, alongside its Managing Director, Gbenga Ashafa had visited the site of the doomed building three days ago, in company of some top Management team of FCTA, admitted that the plot of land originally belongs to FHA, but denied that proper building plan was approved before the mansion was erected.
FHA affirmed that notices to stop work were served at different stages and time of the work, but Kpokpogiri refused to comply.
The Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority , Engr. Shehu Hadi who was also in the team that visited the site, said that the road alignment had been done long ago and FHA was duly notified.
Hadi noted that the road alignment which the demolished building obstructs, was designed to serve as an important bypass to Abuja-Keffi axis.
He added that any plan to realign the road because of the building would be difficult and not fair judgement to those that it would affect, considering that the demolished building was not in existence earlier when the plan started.
Similarly, Director, Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima said the Multi-billion Naira Mansion, located in the highbrow District of Guzape, Abuja, was an unapproved, and can’t be allowed to over ride public interest.
Galadima noted that the Mansion sitting on a rock in the fast developing district, is an obstruction to a major road network, connecting the popular Apo bridge to many parts of the city.
According to him, FHA was duly allocated the Area in the district to carry out its Mass Housing programme.
He however, clarified that when the road network of the district was officially realigned, FHA was promptly notified that some plots of lands within its area have been affected.
Galadima added, that FHA was ordered not to allow any further development on the affected plots , as replacement plots will be given to them.
He also denied lack of inter-agency collaboration between FCTA and FHA, stating that all necessary communications were properly documented.
On his part, Kpokpogiri, the estranged lover of Popular Nollywood star, Tonto Dikeh has however claimed that the decision to pull down his mansion worth over N700m was an act of oppression.
He alleged that his house was demolished because he refused to sell it to some “ powerful “ but unnamed individuals who had begged him to sell the property to them.
He assured that he would fight fervently to get justice for the demolished building.
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