FESTAC residents petition IG towards FHA officers

Residents of Festac City, Lagos, have raised alarm over an alleged violation of courtroom injunction by officers of the Federal Housing Authority.

The residents petitioned the Inspector-Common of Police by way of their authorized consultant, Adetayo Bello.

They alleged in a press release that the FHA has continued to demolish properties within the Festac extension space of Sixth Avenue regardless of a sound courtroom injunction restraining additional demolitions.

It acknowledged, “The petition particularly names the Zonal Supervisor of the FHA, Architect Akintola Olagbenro, alongside two people, Chuka Umenne and Coach Sesi, as being complicit in these actions. The courtroom order in query was issued on September 11, 2023, by Justice O.J. Awope of the Lagos State Excessive Court docket in Ikeja.

“The injunction explicitly restrained the FHA and its brokers from demolishing buildings in FESTAC City’s Sixth Avenue or different areas pending the decision of a substantive go well with (Go well with No: ID/7397GCM/2023).

Regardless of this authorized directive, the petition alleges that the officers named have resumed demolitions, inflicting intensive injury to properties and misery to residents. This act not solely represents a contempt of courtroom but additionally a felony abuse of energy that may endanger public peace,” it acknowledged.

Residents are calling for pressing motion by the Nigeria Police Power to analyze the FHA Zonal Supervisor and his associates for contempt of courtroom and different alleged offences.

The assertion additionally demanded measures to forestall additional unlawful demolitions and make sure the safety of their rights and properties.

It added, “The illegal actions of the FHA officers undermine public confidence within the judiciary and violate the elemental rights of property homeowners in FESTAC City.

“We hope that the Inspector General of Police would intervene decisively to uphold justice and restore stability to the group.”

In the same vein, the Kuje Amuwo Chieftaincy Household in a petition alleged gross abuse of energy, contempt of courtroom, and illegal actions by the Federal Housing Authority, and the Nigeria Police Power.

The household, represented by the Oba-in-Council and supported by their authorized advisers, claimed that the expanse of land situated at Sixth and Seventh Avenue, Festac City, Lagos, was acquired partially by the Federal Authorities in 1976 for FESTAC ‘77.

It acknowledged, “Nevertheless, after the competition, a good portion of the unused land, legally belonging to the Kuje Amuwo household, was allegedly encroached upon by FHA officers and personal people engaged in unlawful gross sales.

“The household additionally accuses the FHA of ignoring a restraining order issued by the Lagos State Excessive Court docket in September 2023.  FHA officers led by Akintola Olagbenro, together with others, orchestrated demolitions of properties on the disputed land.

“These actions had been allegedly carried out below the safety of armed police detachments, reportedly sourced from the Inspector General of Police’s workplace. Residents of Sixth-Seventh Avenue suffered from sporadic gunfire, intimidation, and the destruction of properties and farmland.”

Based on the assertion, the land has undergone intensive litigation, describing that regardless of the continuing authorized course of, FHA officers proceed to demolish properties and intimidate residents, undermining the judicial system.

It added, “The Kuje Amuwo Chieftaincy Household calls on the President to right away halt additional demolitions and respect courtroom rulings. Conduct an impartial investigation into the FHA’s actions and the alleged involvement of law enforcement officials and maintain these accountable for these violations accountable.

“There’s the necessity for the federal government to uphold the rule of regulation, protect the integrity of the judiciary, and guarantee justice for affected residents.”

In an unique interview with The PidomNigeria, the Chief Public Relations Officer of the Federal Housing Authority, Kenneth Chigelu, mentioned the residents can by no means ambush or blackmail the FHA.

He mentioned, “We’re a law-abiding Federal Authorities Company. We don’t go towards authorities intentions or have dedicated any content material. Nevertheless, the state of affairs is that the courtroom order or no matter order they’re claiming doesn’t cowl the entire of Fesca city. There are these areas the place we’re having points with them.

“Now, the very first thing we did was that we flew a drone to seize your entire space in query, however when folks now go, after a courtroom injunction to begin erecting new buildings there. What is going to you do? Will you retain quiet? And in addition to, these are areas that aren’t below this courtroom’s injunction. What is going to you do? In order to not must keep away from that swamp they need to create there.

“In the event that they really feel now we have violated the courtroom order, allow them to return to the courtroom, not media homes, why are they blackmailing the authorities? Why are they whipping up public sentiment? What they’ve completed is incorrect. You can’t take authorities land and construct no matter you want.

“You begin with the grasp plan. Then you could have a courtroom injunction, and also you go in a single day and carry on constructing, do you suppose we are able to fold our arms and have a look at that? However anyway, the actual space that’s below this courtroom injunction won’t have something there. It’s these interlopers.”

Chigelu argued that a number of the affected individuals lack the required documentation for his or her properties.

“Allow them to offer you their constructing plans for what they’re doing. They are saying that this land is Federal Authorities land, have they given them constructing approvals? Who authorised them to do that? As soon as anyone sees land in Lagos or wherever, they begin constructing.

“So they need to discuss this public sentiment they’re whipping. They will be unable to do what is true. We by no means go towards the courtroom injunction. We by no means do something unlawful, however something that has fallen inside our rights. If it’s a statutory proper, we are going to do this.”