Estate developer lambasts FCDA over property demolition despite court restraint

Praco International Limited, a real estate firm, has alleged that the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA “illegally” demolished its Abuja property.

During a press conference on Thursday, Chukwudubem Ezekwelu, the firm’s project manager, expressed concerns that the estate located at Plot 581, Cadastral Zone, Kugbo, registered under number FCDA/DC/BP/ASD/29163, was demolished despite possessing ‘authentic and lawful title and approvals’ for the property.

“As early as 7:45 am, the officials of FCT, alongside a retinue of security personnel drawn from the military, police and the national security and DSS, NCS, civil defence corps, stormed the site with no less many heavy equipment like excavators and bulldozers,” Ezekwelu said.

“We are worried and deeply concerned about the ugly incident of Wednesday, March 27, 2024, despite our concerted efforts for reason to prevail and prevent the unwarranted demolition of our property.”

He said the estate developers presented a substantive court order from an FCT high court to prevent the demolition of the property but officials of the development control department of the FCDA “rebuffed and ignored” it.

“The court had granted us a restraining order following an ex parte motion in the suit filed by Engr. Success Obioma, PRACO International Ltd, Psalm 127 Limited and Peace Be Still Ltd against the FCT Minister, FCDA, Deed Registrar FCDA, Director of Urban/Regional Planning, Chairman AMMAC, the Director of Land Administration and six others,” Ezekwelu said.

“The plaintiffs had through an affidavit deposed to by Simon Nnaemeka Nwani, prayed the court for an order of interim injunction restraining the ‘defendants/respondents by themselves or their servants, agents, privies, proxies or whosoever acting on their express or presume authority from further demolishing or destroying claimants’ developments, which include, but not limited to infrastructure and house, on plots 582 Kukwaba, 542 Kukwaba;

“454 Guzape, 455 Guzape, plot 456 Guzape 458 Guzape, 1577 Guzape, 4577 Maitama A6 Ltd, 5044 Maitama A6, 3198 Maitama A6, 5033 Maitama, A6, 2444 Gwarinpa, 505 Wuye, 2129 Garki 1, 4143 Jikoyi, 4145 Jikoyi, 4147, 4149, 524 Kukwaba, 527 Kukwaba and 3037 Asokoro which developments were put on the land by the claimants after securing Defendants’ approval upon payments of necessary fees pending determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.”

Ezekwelu said upon hearing the suit on March 22, Eleojo Enenche, the judge, granted the prayers and restrained the defendants or their representatives from demolishing the property until the suit was heard on April 9.

Ezekwelu said it is illegal for the FCDA, which is a creation of the law, to “trample” on the order of a court of competent jurisdiction.