N525m bribery scandal: Senate advises FCDA to suspend officer

The Senate has advised the Federal Capital Development Authority
(FCDA) to suspend one of its officers, Mr. Ehimony Joshua, over an
alleged N525million bribery scandal.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Capital
Territory (FCT), Sen. Dino Melaye gave the advice at an
investigative hearing on Friday in Abuja.

Melaye said Joshua, who worked with the Legal Secretariat of the
FCDA, should be suspended pending conclusion of the
investigation.

He said Joshua was involved in N525 million bribery, which he
allegedly facilitated between FCDA and beneficiaries of 206
hectares in Kyami District along Airport Road Abuja.

According to the Senator, three out of 15 beneficiaries out of
the 206 hectares have brought petitions before the committee.

Melaye said the people concerned alleged that Joshua refused to
vacate litigation caveat placed on their plots of land, as done to
12 others allotted land.

Dino said the petitioners also alleged that Joshua refused to
vacate the litigation caveat was because they refused to pay N35
million bribe into two different dedicated bank accounts belonging
to Joshua.

He said the litigation caveat as stated in the petition resulted
from litigation against the 15 allotees by one Toni Asuni and
Bashiru Dantata on behalf of Nigeria Polo Association.

“The petitioners said litigation caveats were not lifted on
their allotted plots because of their refusal to pay the N35
million bribe demanded on behalf of the agency by Ehimony Joshua,
Dino said.”

The Senate has advised the Federal Capital Development Authority
(FCDA) to suspend one of its officers, Mr. Ehimony Joshua, over an
alleged N525million bribery scandal.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Capital
Territory (FCT), Sen. Dino Melaye gave the advice at an
investigative hearing on Friday in Abuja.

Melaye said Joshua, who worked with the Legal Secretariat of the
FCDA, should be suspended pending conclusion of the
investigation.

He said Joshua was involved in N525 million bribery, which he
allegedly facilitated between FCDA and beneficiaries of 206
hectares in Kyami District along Airport Road Abuja.

According to the Senator, three out of 15 beneficiaries out of
the 206 hectares have brought petitions before the committee.

Melaye said the people concerned alleged that Joshua refused to
vacate litigation caveat placed on their plots of land, as done to
12 others allotted land.

Dino said the petitioners also alleged that Joshua refused to
vacate the litigation caveat was because they refused to pay N35
million bribe into two different dedicated bank accounts belonging
to Joshua.

He said the litigation caveat as stated in the petition resulted
from litigation against the 15 allotees by one Toni Asuni and
Bashiru Dantata on behalf of Nigeria Polo Association.

“The petitioners said litigation caveats were not lifted on
their allotted plots because of their refusal to pay the N35
million bribe demanded on behalf of the agency by Ehimony Joshua,
Dino said.”