The Home Builders Association of Nigeria has accused the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, of directing the demolition of properties worth over N200 billion in Sabon Lugbe, Abuja, allegedly without a court order.

Barrister Kalu Agu, counsel to the Home Builders Association of Nigeria, disclosed this on Friday during a press conference attended by the Nairametrics analyst.

The lawyer claimed that his clients have all the necessary title deeds for Sabon Lugbe, Abuja, and that before developing the area, they obtained building permits from the development control within the FCT administration ( FCTA).

Court should decide land ownership

Agu said the FCT Development Control had verified the building permits of its clients and confirmed them as the rightful owners of the property, with proof of legal payments made to the Development Control.

“But, to the surprise of all members of the FCT, the Minister, without notice to anyone, including our clients, and by executive fiat, ordered the development control to go to Sabon Lugbe to demolish some properties worth over 200 billion naira.”

“As we speak today, the demolition has left many Nigerians homeless as people were residing in the area and are now homeless,” he added.

Agu maintained that the minister was aware that the area was under dispute as processes were exchanged between the parties to the dispute, insisting that “there is no order of any competent court in the FCT” approving the demolition of the developed area.

“What concerns our clients is that for the minister to enter such a place and order the demolition, there must be a court order. The minister cannot be judge in his own case. he added, accusing the FCT minister of allegedly planning to award the area to another development company.

He also denied his clients were land grabbers, insisting the FCTA should allow the court to rule on the dispute. He took the opportunity to request the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, so that the FCT minister is called to order.

History

Nairametrics reports that on October 22, 2024, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, ordered the immediate demolition of illegal structures in Sabon Lugbe South District of the FCT.

• The FCT minister issued the order the same day after an unscheduled visit to the site of what he called “illegal structures in Sabon Lugbe”, accompanied by heads of various security agencies of the FCT.
• Barr. Wike reiterated that buildings without proper documentation from the FCT administration would be demolished, describing developers of the area as land grabbers.
• The FCT minister maintained that the structures were built without approval from the Development Control Department, in violation of the FCT’s land use planning provisions.

According to an FCTA statement“The minister thus ordered the Director of the Development Control Department, Town Planner Mukhtar Galadima, to liaise with various security agencies for the demolition of illegal structures and reclamation of land, adding that security personnel will stop any person obstructing the demolition exercise. »

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