FESTAC Land: FHA Appeals Judgement, Sue For Peace

Chika Okeke
The Federal Housing Authority has proceeded to the Court of Appeal to challenge the ruling of the Federal High Court in a case between FHA and Kuje Amuwo community over FESTAC Phase II, Festival Town Lagos state land.

This is even as they sued for peace and warned members of the community to desist from further harassment and intimidation of law abiding citizens as well as willful destruction of properties.

Recall that the Alamuwo of Kuje Amuwo, Oba Isaac Owolabi and three others had instituted a suit against the FHA claiming that about 4.017 hectares being a portion of land in the Phase II of Festival Town belonging to the community was not properly acquired.

Relying on the Federal Government Gazettes No 54 of November 6, 1975 and No 45 of September 9, 1976, the government acquired about 2,024.60 hectares of land along Badagry expressway situated between Amuwo Odofin Scheme, International Trade Fair Complex and the Military Cantonment which is known as Festival Town in the Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State.

The Lagos State government had on 11th May 1988 granted an Indenture covering the Federal Government Acquisition to the Federal Housing Authority.

The tenor of the grant is in perpetuity as long as the Federal Government or the Federal Housing Authority requires the land.

Given the judgment, the indigenes had embarked on harassment of allottees and demolition of the property belonging to residents of FESTAC Phase II in a bid to enforce the judgment delivered by Justice Okon Effreti Abang on February 29, 2016.

A statement signed by the Head, Corporate Communications of FHA, Mr. Tunde Ipinmisho decried the resort to self-help by the plaintiffs while copies of the judgment were yet to be obtained.

Noting that only court bailiffs, sheriffs and the police were empowered to enforce court judgments under the Sheriff and Civil Processes Act, the FHA said the wanton destruction of property and the demolition of the ongoing FHA approved projects in FESTAC Phase II, including projects of the Federal Government concessionaire for the reclamation and sand filling of the area amounted to self help and a blatant breach of the law.