Anambra assembly at plenary on Thursday considered and adopt a report from the house committee on public petition on the petition against the General Manager of Anambra State Physical and Planning Board (ANSPPB) and Executive Secretary of Ihiala Planning Authority for gross misuse and abuse of public office, illegal enforcement of development control and unlawful demolition of private property belonging to Ogbuefi Chinedu Orjiako.
The member representing Anambra West Constituency Hon. Obi Nweke who is the house committee Chairman on public petitions while presenting the report said the concerned parties were invited by the committee who sat for several date on the matter.Â
ANN recalls that the petition was layed at plenary and it was referred to the committee on public petion.
According to Hon. Nweke “On the 18th of July, the petitioners workers were at the above mentioned place when the General Manager of the Anambra State Physical and Planning board together with the Executive Secretary of Ihiala Planning Board in company with their staff andbwith the backing on solders broke into the above mentioned place, took the workers phones and molested them.
“On the 25th of July, more force men of different agencies heavily armed, came back without uniform and demolished the building temporary, inscribed stop work and left.Â
“On the 3rd of August 2023, one week after, they returned with a bulldozer and demolished the fence and pulled down the gate.Â
“The petitioner clamed that the respondents action was wrong and that even if they disobeyed the laws of the Pbysical Plainning Board, there are procedures to follow and that demolishing without following duo process is unacceptable.
“The respondent told the committee that on the 14th July, 2023, they visited the above mentioned and placed a notice stating ‘Stop Work’, marked the property and left.Â
“Nobody visited their office to know why they stopped the work, instead, they continued their construction and that they went back on the 4th on the construction site but did not asult anybody”.Â
On the findings of the committee, Hon. Obi Nweke said the respondent pasted a notice of removal order of demolition but the petitioner did not adhear to it.Â
” If the respondents fails to stop work as directed, the Physical Planning Board is mandated to take necessary actions.Â
” The petitioner should have gone to find out from the board why notice of removal order was made.Â
” The stipulated time the respondent served the petitioner and for the fact that their was a notice, its enough reason for the petitioner to honour the invitation”. Nweke submitted
The house committee on public petition read out the observation of the committee which are as follows:Â
“The respondent should not be held responsible for any demage caused because they served a notice of stop work, but the petitioner failed to adhere to it and continued to work. He who comes with equity, must come with clean hand.Â
“The committee recomemded that when ever a notice from the Anambra State Physical and Planning board is given, ndi Anambra should make sure they adhere to it and also investigate why the notice is given”.
Speaking in an interview after plenary, Hon. Obi Nweke revealed that the committee arrived at the resolution because the Physical Planning Board notified that worked should stop and it is expected that the owner and builders should go and know why they were asked to stop work but they didn’t do so.
” Physical Planning Board is an arm of government and was created to suppervise and direct how people should build.Â
“The primary duty of government is to protect lives and properties. That is why the Physical Planning Board is making sure that ndi Anambra follows the standard set out by government’.
Hon. Nweke urged those who intend to build, to approach the Physical Planning Board and submit their building plans so as to avoid issues.
The lawmaker maintained that the 8th assembly is ever ready to support Governor Chukwuma Soludo in achieving his campaign promises.
