FHA Denies Breaching Court Order Restricting Demolition of 600 Houses at Festac

The Ikeja Division of the Lagos High Court on Tuesday fixed May 2 for the hearing of committal to prison against the Federal Housing Authority. The FHA counsel, Chris Ekemezie, had prayed to the court at the resumption of the trial for the court to strike out forms 48 and 49 filed against his client to give room for hearing of the main application.

However, Justice Akintunde Savage, the presiding judge, disagreed with the prayer.

In his ruling, the judge said there was essential evidence before the court, noting that the evidence was not manufactured by the complainant.

Savage ordered the complainant’s counsel to file his brief.

At the last adjourned date, the FHA denied breaching a court order restricting it from demolishing 600 houses at 6th Avenue, Festac Town, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos.

The claimants’ counsel, Adetayo Bello, told the court that he had obtained an injunction against the defendants (FHA and LSBCA). The motion with suit number ID/7396GCM/2023, dated September 7, 2023, was brought before Justice O. J. Awope of the Ikeja Division of the Lagos High Court (sitting as a vacation judge at the time) on September 11, 2023.

Accordingly, the judge gave the order after a 40-page affidavit dated Sept. 7, deposed by the fourth defendant, Alhaji R.A. Balogun and Thaddeus Idenyi, for the claimants.

Awope had ordered a preemptive injunction restraining the first defendant, whether acting by itself or through its agents, from demolishing and removing any building or property erected in 6th Avenue Festac Town or any other part of Festac Town.