Otu sacks task force over demolition of private property

By Emma Una
CALABAR — Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has dissolved the state’s Planning and Development Control Task Force following the demolition of a private property nearing completion by officials of the agency.

The governor also ordered the immediate suspension of further demolition activities on the affected property and directed the payment of compensation for damages caused by the demolition.

Otu announced the decisions on Wednesday, describing the action of the task force, headed by Akiba Ekpenyong, as a “brazen, unconscionable and reprehensible demolition”.

He characterised the incident as an abuse of power and an assault on the rights of a citize...