Officials from FHA, including its Managing Director, Gbenga Ashafa, who visited the site of the doomed structure three days ago with some top FCTA management, admitted that the plot of land originally belonged to FHA, but denied that a proper building design was approved before the mansion was completed.
FHA, on the other hand, confirmed that stop-work notices were sent at various stages and times during the project, but Kpokpogiri refused to comply.
The road alignment had been done long ago, according to the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCTA), Engr. Shehu Hadi, who was also part of the team that visited the site.
The road alignment that the demolished structure obstructs was intended to act as an important bypass to the Abuja-Keffi axis, according to Hadi.
He went on to say that any proposal to realign the road because of the structure would be difficult and unfair to people who would be affected, given that the demolished building did not exist when the plan began.
Muktar Galadima, Director, Department of Development Control, said the multi-billion naira home in Abuja's upmarket Guzape sector was an unapproved project that could not be permitted to overrule public interest.
Galadima pointed out that the mansion perched on a ledge in the fast-growing region was obstructing a vital road network that connected the city's famed Apo Bridge to many other locations.
He claims that FHA was given the proper territory in the district to carry out its mass housing scheme.
He did clarify, however, that when the district's road network was officially realigned, FHA was swiftly told that several pieces of land within its jurisdiction had been affected.
Galadima went on to say that FHA had been told not to allow any more development on the damaged plots because they will be replaced.
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