Gov’t must compensate FCT indigenes before claiming their lands – Balami, rtd Judge insists

By Usman Shuaibu

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) as well as the Federal Government must compensate the indigenes of the FCT before claiming their lands, a retired Judge of the FCT High Court of Justice, Hon. Justice Mwad Balami has said.
Balami opined that the FCT indigenes would continue to stay in the ancestral lands of their forefathers until they were compensated by the government.
He stated this position yesterday while speaking to Peoples Daily Correspondent at his residence in Gwagwalada saying
His words: ‘‘When Obansajo came to power; he said the FCT indigenes would continue to remain in their places until the development reaches them.
“So now, if the government is claiming the lands in the FCT, where did they settle the indigenes? The government relocated some indigenes of the FCT to Bwari and Kubwa and that I can tell you that Bwari and Kubwa are still parts of the FCT”.
He also noted that the government had failed to relocate the indigenes to the neutral places since the inception of the FCT apart from those indigenes, who were settled in Sabon Wuse and Sabon Karu.
He adds: “I was magistrate when the issue of compensation came up and that the FCDA were alleging that the indigenes are settled in Sabon Karu, and I said let them bring me the list or voucher they settled the people they brought the list, I saw the man’s name but no evidence of payment, I said my friend go back to your house.
“The FCDA appeal to Justice Gumi High court, but Gumi confirmed my judgment. So, that was what FCT indigenes were enjoying today”.
Balami, however, recalled that when late Jeremiah Hussein acquired plots of land in Gwagwalada, he compensated the indigenes or natives.