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

Lawyer Kalu Agu, advisor to the Home Builders Association of Nigeria, disclosed this at a press conference attended by Nairametrics analyst on Friday.

The lawyer claimed that his clients had all the necessary title documents for Sabon Lugbe, Abuja and had obtained construction permits from the Development Control under the FCT Authority (FCTA) before developing the area.

The Court Should Decide Land Ownership

Agu stated that FCT Development Control verified the building permits of its clients and confirmed that they were the rightful owners of the property, along with evidence of legal payments allegedly made to Development Control.

“But to the surprise of everyone in the FCT, the Minister directed the Development Control to go to Sabon Lugbe to demolish properties valued at over N200 billion, without notice to anyone, including our customers, and by executive order.”

“As we speak today, the devastation has left many Nigerians homeless as people have been residing in the area and are now left without shelter.” he added.

Agu argued that the Minister was aware that the region was the subject of a lawsuit, as processes were exchanged between the parties to the dispute, and emphasized the following: “There is no order from any competent court in the FCT.” Approving the demolition of the developed area.

“What concerns our clients is that there must be a court order for the Minister to enter such a place and order its demolition. “The minister cannot control his own case,” he said. he added, accusing the FCT Minister of allegedly planning to allocate the area to another development firm.

He also rejected the allegation that his clients were land grabbers, insisting that the FCTA should allow the court to make a statement on the dispute. He seized the opportunity to seek the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, insisting that the FCT minister be summoned to duty.

Background

Nairametrics reported that on October 22, 2024, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, ordered the immediate demolition of illegal structures in the Sabon Lugbe Southern Regional Scheme in the FCT.

• The FCT Minister issued the order the same day, following what he described as an impromptu visit to the region. “Illegal structures in Sabon Lugbe” He is accompanied by heads of various security agencies in the FCT.
• Barr. Wike reiterated that buildings that do not receive the required documents from the FCT Administration will be demolished and described those developing the area as land grabbers.
• The FCT Minister alleged that the structures were constructed without the approval of the Development Control Department, in violation of the land use provisions of the FCT.

According to FCTA expression“The Minister then instructed the Head of the Development Control Department, City Planner Mukhtar Galadima, to contact various security agencies to demolish the illegal structures and save the land, adding that the security personnel will arrest anyone who prevents the demolition work. ”

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