From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike yesterday threatened to sack the Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Yohana Dauda, for allegedly attempting to defraud 455 victims of demolition at Gishiri village.
This followed his discovery that despite his approval of N1.3 billion for the victims’ compensation, the Executive Secretary, in collaboration with the Department of Compensation and Relocation, was offering the victims significantly less than the amount he had authorised.
The victims, comprising both indigenes and non indigenes, were affected by the ongoing road construction and had their homes pulled down last week.
Speaking to key stakeholders and a delegation of Gishiri Community’s leaders, Wike expressed dismay over the alleged shady deals being promoted by the Executive Secretary in the compensation process for the affected residents.
Wike expressed his annoyance over the shady deals, stating that the Executive Secretary, an indigene of Abuja, had betrayed the trust placed on him by his community and the government.
The Minister warned him to immediately rectify the situation by paying the victims the approved amount or face dismissal.
Earlier, the youth leader of Gishiri community, Umaru Godwin, had accused the embattled Executive Secretary of modifying the Minister’s instructions regarding the community’s relocation. According to Godwin, the ES proposed a waterlogged site for the relocation, which would prevent the demolition victims from building any structures there.
Another community member, Juliet Jonah, also alleged that the victims were protesting because a mere N72,000 was offered per building as compensation.