Estate Demolition: Judge Berates FCTA Officials For Disobeying Court Order

Justice Hamza Muazu of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Maitama, has berated authorities of the Federal Capital Territory Administration for disobeying a valid order of the court, which had restrained them from demolishing a property owned by Praco International Ltd.

The multi-billion-naira estate located in Asokoro/Kugbo axis of FCT, is being developed by SNECOU Group and others.

The judge was reacting to recent developments arising from a suit filed by Engr Success Obioma, Praco International Ltd, Psalm 127 Ltd, and Peace Be Still Ltd, (Claimants) against the FCT Administration.

Defendants in suit marked FCT/HC/CV/1739/ 24 and Motion No: M/5827/2024, are the FCT Minister, Federal Capital Development Authority, The Deed Registrar FCDA, Director Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Chairman Abuja Metropolitan Management Council and the Director of Land Administration FCT, etc.

Justice Eleojor Enenche of an FCT High Court sitting in Wuse, had on March 22, 2024 made an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants/respondents by themselves or their agents from further demolishing or destroying claimants developments which include but not limited to infrastructure and house, on Plots 582 Kukwaba, 542 Kukwaba, 454 Guzape, 455 Guzape, Plot 456 Guzape, 458 Guzape, 1577 Guzape, 4577 Maitama Aé Ltd, 5044 Maitama Aé, 3198 Maitama Aé, 5033 Maitama, Aé, 2444 Gwarinpa, 505 Wuye, 2129 Gorki 1, 4143 Jikoyi, 4145 Jikoyi, 4147, 4149, 524 Kukwaba, 527 Kukwaba and 3037 Asokoro, which developments were put on the land by the claimants.

However, while the order was subsisting, the FCDA officials on Wednesday demolished the property.

Miffed by the action of the FCT Authorities, the developer, on Thursday approached the court, wherein it obtained an order further extending by another 7 days, the injunctive interim order against the defendants.

Justice Muazu, sitting as a vacation judge at High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Maitama, expressed dismay at the action of the defendants in view of the pendency of the matter in court.

After listening to the application by the Claimant’s lawyer, J. K Matthew the court compelled the FCT Authorities to write an undertaking through their lawyers that they will never do anything untoward that will render a fait accompli on the court.

The judge warned that they should not near the property pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Addressing journalists on Thursday, the Managing Director/Project Manager of Praco International Ltd, Dr Chukwudubem Ezekwelu Esq. expressed concern that the country’s Judiciary is being ridiculed due to flagrant disobedience of court orders by some government, ministries and agencies.

He therefore appealed to President Bola Tinubu “to immediately intervene as well as protect the integrity of the judiciary,” and also appealed to the FCT Minister, Barr Nyesom Wike, to rescind the decision on the demolition of the estate.

He posited that real estate business is a major means of internally generated revenue and should be encouraged by government because it has the capacity to turn around the economy of the country.