Anambra State Indigenous Lawyers Forum (ASILF) has called on the federal government to quickly look into the matter of property demolition in Abuja, noting that the way and manner some properties are destroyed is worrisome and has adverse effects on the economy.

The group at a press conference held in Lagos bemoaned the approach used by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike in some property demolition in the FCT.

Having deliberated over what they called violation of the judicial process, ASILF stated that some properties which were acquired legitimately by some individuals are being demolished, citing the case of Chief Nicholas Ukachukwu, a businessman and property developer in Abuja whose properties worth millions of dollars were destroyed.

* A cross section of ASILF Executive Committee members after the Press Conference 

ASILF President, Mr. Joe Nwokedi, in a statement to the media, noted that the demolition of Ukachukwu’s property by Wike was against a pending court order, adding that the judicial process should have prevailed in that circumstance.

His words: “We call this press conference primarily to bring to public knowledge the illegality, intimidation and humiliation on some individuals going on in the country.

“When we began to see things like this happen, we presume that it is all that which is associated with the tensions generated by the last general election. Unfortunately, we also saw it transcend, culminating in the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike carrying out a demolition exercise on a lawfully acquired property of one Nicholas Ukachukwu in Abuja.

“To the best of our knowledge, there was a court order to stay execution. And the FCT Minister, being privy of that, stated that it was purchased. We believe that it is uncalled for, and could be termed as a gross violation of section 42 of chapter 4 of the Nigeria constitution as amended; which says that nobody should be discriminated upon by the virtue of his place of birth, religion, colour and tribe.”

Nwokedi stated that it was included in the constitution with the knowledge that Nigeria is an amalgamation of many entities, and therefore, people should be freely allowed to exercise their rights in the acquisition of property, religion, right of movement and other things within the territory that made up Nigeria.

He also stated that if there was an order of the court, all the Minister needed to do is to verify, adding that there are rules and processes to it.

“We want the federal government to intervene on the matter and as well, call the Honourable Minister to order,” said Nwokedi. “We believe that the best thing to do is to follow due process, go to court and get a valid order of demolition. If there is a contention, an arbiter should not be the decider of a matter. This is why we have that arm of government for proper resolution.

“We, the Anambra Indigenous Lawyers Forum urge him to rescind his actions and to correct the wrongs under which we will deem it necessary to join issues and go to court to challenge such anomalies.”

Also speaking, ASILF executive members consisting of Messrs Chuks Nnalugha and Anene Nwadukwe as well as Nkechi Iloegbunam and Malize Iwudoh unanimously lent their voices to what they call a ‘gross violation of the rule of law and court orders’ in the demolition of legally acquired properties under FCT and elsewhere in the country.

The group decried the alleged impunity, stating that private individuals who are helping to develop the country’s infrastructure should not be hounded like common criminals.

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