Reps probe sale of defence college quarters in Abuja

The house of representatives has begun a probe into the sale of defence college quarters, Apo, and the undeveloped allotted plots in the Abuja.

Speaking on Thursday while declaring open a public hearing organised by the house committee on the federal capital territory (FCT), Yakubu Dogara, the speaker said according to the constitution, only the federal government could allocate lands in Abuja.

The speaker said stakeholders should take advantage of the hearing to provide information and materials that will guide the the committee in its work.

“Specifically, section 297(2) of the constitution provides that the ownership of all lands comprised in the federal capital territory, Abuja, shall vest in the government of the federal republic of Nigeria,” Dogara said.

“In the law making process, public hearing is the only stage in the development process of a bill or motion that has the advantages of affording the public the opportunity of providing information and materials that will stimulate interests of citizens leading to their participation and contributions in the process of law making.

“It is also a platform where interests and opinions are articulated and aggregated to form the basis for making good law and policy for the betterment of the larger society.

“Furthermore, S.299(a)(c) provides thus – (a) all the legislative powers, the executive powers and the judicial powers vested in the house of assembly, the governor of a state and in the courts of a dtate shall, respectively, vest in the national assembly, the president of the federation and in the courts which by virtue of the foregoing provisions are courts established for the federal capital territory, Abuja;

“(c) the provisions of this constitution pertaining to the matters aforesaid shall be read with such modifications and adaptations as may be reasonably necessary to bring them into conformity with the provisions of this section.”

The house committee on FCT was mandated to establish the status of undeveloped allotted plots in the FCT and take measures enforcing the terms and conditions for such allotment and establish the identity and ownership of properties in the highbrow areas of the country’s capital.

The committee was also mandated to investigate the sale of national defence college quarters, zone C, Apo Abuja to individuals.

Four bills were also refereed to the committee for further legislative action and they are; A bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of The Federal Capital Territory wider area planning and development commission.