FCTA, FG must compensate FCT indigenes before claiming their lands – Balami

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, the retired Judge of the FCT High Court of Justice, Hon. Justice Mwad Balami has said.
Balami stated this while speaking to Peoples Daily Correspondents in his residence in Gwagwalada on Sunday, saying that the FCT indigenes would continue to stay in their ancestral lands until they are compensated by the government.
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 I can tell you that Bwari and Kubwa are still parts of the FCT”.
He explained that the government had failed to relocate the indigenes to neutral places since the inception of the FCT apart from those indigenes who were settled in Sabon Wuse and Sabon Karu.
He said: “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 appealed to Justice Gumi High court, but Gumi confirmed my judgment. So, that is what FCT indigenes are enjoying today”.