Abuja villagers sue minister

FCT Minister Bala Mohammed was on Thursday dragged before the FCT High Court by more than 100 residents of two villages in Lugbe, a surburb of Abuja,Nigeria’s capital, over plans to demolish their communities.

The residents of Tudun-Wada and Sauka-Kauta through their counsel, Mr Ejike Okpara, prayed the court to grant an injunction restraining the minister from demolishing their homes, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The FCT Administration on July 17 announced that 20 villages around Abuja would be demolished.

Mrs Josie Mudashiru, the spokesperson of the Department of Development Control of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), listed the villages as Idu, Karmo-Dape, Tasha, Gwagwa, Suburi, Zauda, and Jahi.

Others are, Gishiri, Mabushi and Mpape, Kuchigoro, Chika, Aleita, Piwoyi, Lugbe, Pyakassa, Tudun-wada, Dei-dei, Sauka-Kauta and Guzape villages.

At the resumed hearing in the suit on Thursday, Justice Baba-Yusuf adjourned further hearing on the motion on notice filed by the residents to 16 August.

Baba-Yusuf said the adjournment was to enable the FCT Administration to enter appearance in the matter.

He said the hearing on the motion on notice was a formal notification to all parties to enter their defence and file all court processes in the suit.

One of the villages