Abuja landlords sue FCTA, demand N672m compensation for demolished houses

Several house owners in the Kuntuku V. Extension Layout in the Gwagwalada Area Council of Abuja have dragged the Federal Capital Territory Administration to court for demolishing their structures without notice.

They also claimed that the FCTA was yet to compensate them after the demolition, lamenting that the situation has worsened their hardship and rendered them displaced.

The PUNCH had reported that over 20 houses were demolished in the area on September 1, 2022, by the FCTA.

In a suit filed by their counsel, E. O. Abadaki at an FCT High Court, copies of which was obtained by our correspondent on Friday, 16 of the 20 affected house owners are the complainants, while the FCT Minister, the Director of Land, FCDA, the Director, Urban and Regional Planning, FCDA, the Director, FCDA Department of Development Control are first, second, third and fourth defendants respectively.

The claimants are asking the court to declare the demolition exercise embarked upon by the defendants despite having a valid title and allocation with approved building plans as unlawful, illegal, unconstitutional, null, and void.

They also demanded a total of N672 million as compensation for their demolished structures.

Among other reliefs, the claimants also seek, “An order for payment of adequate specific damages in the sum of N672,137,690 to the claimants jointly and severally being for the destruction of properties.

“An order of this honourable court reversing the actions or activities of the Defendants by ordering the restoration of the claimants' plots of land to them.

“An order for general damages in the sum of N100 million being for the dispossession of claimants' plots of land, hardship, and disturbance of their peaceful enjoyment of their plots of land, ” the writ partly read.