By Stanley Onyekwere
In a landmark judgment, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, setting in Maitama, Abuja has declared the September 2024 demolition of houses in Kpaduma community by the FCT Administration as illegal and unconstitutional.
The Presiding Judge, Hon. Justice H. Mu’azu, ruled on Monday that the demolition violated residents’ fundamental rights and ordered the FCTA to pay N200 million in compensation to affected community members.
The court also restrained the administration from any future demolition in the area without proper court authorization.
Justice Mu’azu also mandated the FCTA to resettle the 20 displaced families, whose homes were destroyed in the controversial exercise that occurred on September 5, 2024.
Reacting to the judgment, legal representative for the Kpaduma residents, Sylvester Ogbelu described the judgment as a triumph for the rule of law.
He said: “This ruling has restored hope where there was despair. The court has affirmed its position as the last hope of the common man by ordering not just compensation, but proper resettlement of my clients within their ancestral community”.
The lawyer emphasized that the residents were not opposed to development, but insisted on due process.
“Our position has always been clear – any government action must follow the law. You cannot render citizens homeless without providing alternatives”, he said.
Expressing confidence in compliance, Ogbelu noted, “The FCT Minister is a respected senior lawyer. We expect full adherence to this judgment”.
On his part, Secretary of the Kpaduma community and one of the affected residents, Simon Baba-Yerimah could barely contain his joy after the ruling.
“Today, God has used the judiciary to answer our prayers. For generations spanning over a century, our families have lived on this land.
” To have our homes marked and destroyed within 24 hours was not just illegal, but inhuman”, he said.
Also, the community leader recounted the traumatic events of September 2024 when FCTA officials marked properties on September 4 and carried out demolitions the following day.
“They didn’t just destroy buildings – they tried to erase our heritage. But today, justice has prevailed”, he said.
Baba-Yerimah called on the FCTA to respect the court’s decision, “This judgment is constitutional and binding. We expect full compensation and proper resettlement as ordered. Our fight for justice doesn’t end here – we will pursue additional damages for the trauma caused”.
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