The Media Adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Paul Ibe, has criticised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over his threat to withdraw property titles from hotels and event centres that permit their facilities to be used by organisations deemed illegal.
The warning was conveyed in a statement issued on Friday by the minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka.
According to the statement, the measure forms part of efforts aimed at enhancing security within the Federal Capital Territory and complementing ongoing operations by security agencies to protect lives and property.
However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alleged that the directive was specifically targeted at the A Class Event Centre in Abuja, a venue where the party planned to hold its presidential candidate ratification ceremony in honour of former President Goodluck Jonathan, according to TheSun.
The allegation was contained in a separate statement released on Friday by the party’s Interim National Working Committee.
Responding in a post on Facebook, Ibe accused the FCT minister of assuming powers reserved for the judiciary, arguing that the determination of whether an organisation is illegal lies solely with the courts.
He said, “Wike is in no position to determine whether an organisation is illegal or not.
“That responsibility rests squarely with the courts. Or does the FCT Minister think that his non-practising lawyer status and membership of the Body of Benchers now qualifies him as a Judge of the Impunity order?”
