An Abuja court has restrained Muhammad Bello, the FCT minister, from further demolishing the residence of Prince Joseph Kpokpogri.
Kpokpogri, in May, lamented that the Federal Capital Development Agency (FCDA) commenced the demolition of his Abuja home because he refused to sell it.
An aide to the FCT minister countered that Kpokpogri’s house was built on a major highway, hence the demolition.
A high court sitting at Maitama on Thursday has now ordered Bello to halt the demolition.
The order followed an ex-parte application Kpokpogri filed through his lawyers led by Mike Ozekhome (SAN).
Recounting the demolition, Ozekhome told the court that the FCDA invaded his client’s residence on May 14 with armed policemen, bulldozers, and excavators.
He said they commenced the demolition of his house, beginning with the boys’ quarters.
The lawyer told the court that agents of the FCDA threatened to return for total demolition of Kpokpogri’s house and failed to give any reason for their action.
Ozekhome begged the court to intervene in the matter.
In his ruling, Charles Agbaza, the judge, said he found merit in the ex-parte application.
He granted all the reliefs that were sought by the applicant.
“This court finds merit in the application and it is satisfied that the Applicant has fulfilled all the conditions to warrant the exercise of discretion in his favour. The application has merit and it is accordingly granted,” he said.
Agbaza served the court order on all the defendants in the suit and adjourned the matter till July 15 to hear the substantive case.
Aside from the FCT minister, other defendants in the suit are the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), and the FCDA.
Also included are the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), and the attorney-general of the federation (AGF).
In the substantive suit, Kpokpogri is praying the court to order the defendants to pay him aggravated and general damages to the tune of N2 billion.
Kpokpogri is an ex-lover to Tonto Dikeh, the Nollywood actress.
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