Lawyer alleges ‘due process’ was not followed by FCT Minister in demolishing Abuja residents’ properties

Public interest lawyer and activist Barrister Deji Adeyanju has accused Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), of bypassing due process in demolishing properties belonging to Abuja residents and revoking their land titles.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Adeyanju criticized Wike’s approach, claiming that before any demolition, the Minister should have first sought approval from the Tribunal, waited for its ruling, and allowed the affected residents the right to appeal, as required by law. His comments come amid growing opposition from legal professionals and residents against the ongoing demolitions by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), which are targeting “illegal structures” in the Sabon-Lugbe South District and other areas, following Wike’s order on October 22, 2024.

Activist Calls for Legal Due Process

Adeyanju accused Wike’s administration of engaging in land grabs in the FCT, including repurposing public parks for residential developments. He argued that legal avenues should be fully explored before any demolition orders are carried out. “Due process must be followed. Wike should have gone to the tribunal and awaited its decision. If the people lost, they have the right to appeal in the High Court. None of these legal steps were followed,” Adeyanju stated.

The activist also claimed that the FCTA had resorted to indiscriminate demolition using bulldozers, targeting several homes that were labeled as shanties. Adeyanju urged Wike to show compassion towards the poor residents whose homes were affected by the demolition. “If we don’t tolerate the poor, they’ll have no choice but to revolt,” he warned. “And when the poor can’t sleep, neither will the rich.”

Background of the Demolitions

The FCT Minister’s order for the demolitions came after a surprise inspection of the Sabon Lugbe area, where Wike identified what he described as “illegal structures.” During the visit, Wike was accompanied by senior security officials in the FCT. He reiterated that buildings without proper documentation from the FCTA would be demolished, labeling developers in the area as land grabbers. According to Wike, these structures had been built without approval from the FCTA’s Development Control Department, violating the land use laws of the FCT.

In an official statement, the FCTA announced that the Minister had instructed the Director of the Development Control Department, Mukhtar Galadima, to coordinate with security agencies to demolish the illegal structures and recover the land. The statement also emphasized that security personnel would arrest anyone attempting to obstruct the demolition process.

Earlier reports by Nairametrics revealed that the Home Builders Association of Nigeria had accused Wike of overseeing the demolition of properties worth over N200 billion in Sabon-Lugbe’s Weather-Field Estate, allegedly without a court order.

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