The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike has been accused of illegally ordering the demolition of properties worth N200bn at the Sabon Lugbe axis of Abuja, despite obtaining the necessary title documents and building permits from Development Control.
Barrister Kalu Agu, Counsel to Home Builders Association of Nigeria made the accusation in a Press conference in Abuja on Friday.
He alleged that the minister ordered the demolition without a court order and that many Nigerians have been rendered homeless as a result.
He said his clients possess all the necessary title documents for Sabon Lugbe, Abuja, and prior to developing the area, they obtained building permits from the Development Control within the FCT Administration ,FCTA.
Agu stated that the Development Control of the FCT had verified his clients’ building permits and allegedly confirmed them as the rightful owners of the property, with evidence of statutory payments made to the Development Control.
“But, to the surprise of everyone in the FCT, the Minister, without notice to anyone, including our clients, and by executive fiat, directed the Development Control to proceed to Sabon Lugbe to demolish properties worth over N200 billion.”
“As we speak today, the demolition has rendered many Nigerians homeless, as people were residing in the area and are now without shelter,” he added.
Agu argued that the Minister was aware that the area is the subject of litigation, as processes have been exchanged among the parties to the dispute, insisting that “there is no order from any court of competent jurisdiction 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 should be a court order. The Minister cannot be a judge in his own case,” he added, accusing the FCT Minister of allegedly planning to allocate the area to another development firm.
He also denied that his clients were land grabbers, insisting that the FCTA should allow the court to make a pronouncement on the dispute.
He called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene urging that the FCT minister should be called to order.
