By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
Apparently in disobedience to a competent court order restraining the Federal Housing Authority(FHA) from demolishing and/or removing any building or property erected in 6th Avenue FESTAC Town or any other part of FESTAC Town, a Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has fixed May 2, 2024, for the hearing of contempt proceeding against the Federal Housing Authority.
At the resumption of the matter on Suit No. ID/7396GCM/2023, dated September 7, 2023, the complainants through their counsel Mr Adetayo Bello had told the court that the respondent breached the order of court restricting it from carrying out any demolition in FESTAC town.
The claimants’ counsel, Mr Bello, told the court that he had obtained an injunction against the defendant (FHA).
But the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) had denied breaching a court order restricting it from demolishing 600 houses at 6th Avenue, Festac Town, Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos.
The FHA counsel, Mr Chris Ekemezie, had prayed the court at the resumption of the trial to strike out forms 48 and 49 filed against his client to give space for hearing of the main application.
However, the presiding judge Justice Akintunde Savage, refused the prayer. In his ruling, the judge said there was essential evidence before the court, noting that the complainant did not manufacture the evidence.
Justice Savage subsequently ordered the complainant’s counsel to file his brief.
The motion with Suit No. ID/7396GCM/2023, dated September 7, 2023, was brought before Justice O. J. Awope of an Ikeja High Court on September 11, 2023, sitting as a vacation judge then.
Accordingly, the judge gave the order, after a 40-page affidavit dated September 7, deposed to by Alhaji R A. Balogun and Thaddeus Ideniyi, for the claimants.
Consequent upon the motion, Justice Awope, had ordered a pre-emptive order of injunction restraining the first defendant/respondent whether acting by itself or through its agents, from demolishing and/or removing any building or property erected in 6th Avenue FESTAC Town or any other part of FESTAC Town.
