July 07, (THEWILL) – A Federal High Court in Abuja has stated that the demolition exercise being carried out on the house of Joseph Egbri, popularly known as Kpokpogri, should stop.
The order was given on Thursday.
This is also as the defendant moves to file over N2 billion damages against the Federal Capital Territory Development Authority, the FCT Minister, Muhammed Bello, among others, as compensation.
According to the lawyer representing Kpokpogri, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), shortly after the court proceedings, the court directed the discontinued demolition and taking over of Kpokpogri’s property.
Recall that on May 14, Kpokpogri cried out over the demolition of his house by the FCTA. He said his house was worth N700 million.
He said the reason he was given for the demolition of the house was an “order from above.”
He has since been battling the FCTA over the demolition, with some groups also protesting on his behalf.
He also petitioned relevant agencies over the demolition.
Speaking on Thursday, Ozekhome said the action had no legal basis as the house got necessary approvals. Kpokpogri had also claimed that the FCTA monitored the construction of the house from foundation to completion.
However, the FCTA claim that Kpokpogri’s house lacked necessary approvals, saying it was built on a major highway, and having warned against it, he continued with the construction.
However, the lawyer maintained that his client, “a former landlord, was made to become a tenant.”
He noted that justice may be slow, but it would eventually prevail.
He added that Justice Agbasa had “granted our request to restrain the authorities from continuing with the demolition. They did not complete the demolition, they promised to come back,” he said.
“At the end of the day, we are claiming over N2 billion damages,” he said, adding that some property were carted away as seen in a video that captured those that came to carry out the demolition.
The case was subsequently adjourned till Friday, July 15, 2022.
