The Rivers State Government has sealed off a five-storey building owned by Dr. Samuel Nwanosike, the former Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area, due to alleged violations of the approved building plan.
Located in the GRA axis of Port Harcourt, the structure was intended to be a hotel and was near completion.
According to The PUNCH, Nwanosike, an ally of the Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, had originally applied for and submitted a plan for a four-storey building.
However, the building was extended to five storeys without a plan review.
The site was sealed on Wednesday by officials from the Rivers State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.
The Commissioner for Urban and Physical Development, Isaac Umejuru, explained that the owner had applied for a four-storey building but constructed five storeys, which constituted a violation.
Umejuru stated that the ministry had sealed off the site to conduct integrity tests before taking further action.
A viral video captured the moment Dr. Nwanosike argued with ministry officials at the property site.
During the confrontation, Nwanosike declared he would bequeath the property to Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
In the altercation, Nwanosike said, “Nobody can intimidate me,” to which an official responded that he was not being intimidated but had violated the approved plan.
Nwanosike said, “This property I will give to you and Fubara; N555bn contravention, that is what you said I should pay? We will wait; we will not be afraid. But this will not change Dr. Samuel Nwanosike. I have written to you formally, but you have not responded. Let everybody hear it.”
An official from the ministry replied, “Nobody is intimidating you. You said you wrote to us, and we have responded. You contravened the approval you were given. Are you threatening me because I’m doing my official work? It is known, and let it be known that this building was sealed…”
Wike and Fubara have been at odds since last year, and this disagreement has caused a rift among their supporters.
