Illegal demolition: Suleja shop owners sue local govt

The fundamental rights application was filed on November 11 by their lawyer and human rights activist, Frank Tietie before a Niger State High Court in Suleja. The shop owners and occupants of Old Minna Garage, Suleja, Niger State, who are represented by: Hezekiah Bola Joshua, Onuora Ezekwesili, Paulinus Ojobe, Iyabode Joseph, Gerald Ego and Ejike Onyekwere, wants the court to issue an injunction restraining the council from further demolition of any shop “without proper acquisition procedure.” In an affidavit attached to the origination motion, Joshua stated that they were allotted the shops at sums ranging from N600, 000 to N1m with approvals, which are subject to renewal every three years with recent expiring by August 2018 He further averred that the applicants “renovated, decked the shops in line with the modern plan required and provided security measures, safety gadgets against fire accidents, toilets, bathrooms, access roads, parking space, electricity and warehouses all with the consent of the respondents.” Besides, Joshua stated that the demolition exercise, which was carried out without legal procedure hazardously left their equipment in the open space. They include: heavy duty printing machines like cutting machines, laminating machines, cord machines and various G.T.O machines and Mortlate machine equipment, motors and spare parts of various aspect. No date has been fixed for hearing.]]>