House Threatens Arrest Over ₦100bn FCT Area Council Audit Infractions

By Oluwakemi Kindness

The House of Representatives has threatened to order the arrest of the chairmen of the six Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Councils and their Finance Directors over alleged financial infractions exceeding ₦100 billion.

The threat followed the submission of an audit report by the Auditor-General for the FCT Area Councils to the House Public Accounts Committee (PAC), indicting Abaji, Abuja Municipal, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali Area Councils.

The audit report for the year ended 31 December 2021 revealed ₦7.65 billion in outstanding liabilities, including unremitted pension deductions, PAYE, VAT, withholding taxes and unpaid capital project obligations.

According to a statement on Friday by the Committee, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) recorded the highest liability at ₦2.19 billion, followed by Bwari (₦1.49 billion) and Kwali (₦1.46 billion).

The report also uncovered poor asset management, with ₦336 million worth of assets in Gwagwalada not properly documented, a problem found across the councils.

Reacting, PAC Chairman Bamidele Salam confirmed that the council chairmen and their Finance Directors have been summoned and warned that failure to appear before the Committee on Wednesday, 11 February 2026, would lead the House to invoke its powers to order their arrest.

He added that the councils also failed to submit audited accounts for 2023 to 2025, stressing that officials found culpable would be held accountable under the law.