From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
Angry Abuja traders took the streets to protest the demolition of the perimeter fence securing their shops by authorities of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, preparatory to the demolition of their shops against a subsisting order of court.
In a suit marked FCT/HC/CV/2634/2023, the over 434 traders and shop owners represented by Ahmed Suleiman, Michael Uwalaku; Adeleke Oluwatoyin; Rufelis Investment Ltd and Grace Bomima Benson secured a court order against the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Federal Capital Department Authority, FCDA; Abuja
Investment Company Ltd, Urban Shelter Ltd and Inspector General of Police , (IGP), directing them to maintain status quo pending the determination of the motion on notice.
The order which was issued by Justice Judge Onwuegbeuzie of the Apo division of the court, was secured by counsel to the traders and a former Attorney General of Imo State, Chukwuma-machulwu Ume, SAN.
It reads: ” That parties in this matter are hereby ordered to maintain the status quo pending the hearing of the pending motion on notice.”
Before the demolition of the perimeter fence, counsel to the traders, Ume had on March 31, 2023, written a letter to the Cordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, drawing its attention to the order of the court and of the need to comply with same.
The letter was sequel to the marking carried out on the property by the council.
The letter titled “Your marking on Area 7, shopping Center Awful disdain and disobedience to court order in the ongoing litigation reads in part:
” It is apposite to inform you that the above property is still a subject matter of a suit in a court of law and therefore should not br tampered with.
“It is apt to state that any action carried out which may fundamentally alter the property is tantamount to contempt.
” We therefore ask that all work currently being or about to be carried out on the Area 7 shopping centre should be put to a stop pending the determination of the suit as status quo should be maintained.
“The mark placed on the building of the shopping centre should also be removed as that is contrary to the court order. Your Council cannot treat court order with disdain. We are subject to the rule of law.”
Addressing journalists at the premises of the Shopping Center, Chairman of the traders and shop owners, Mr. Godfrey Ojarikre, who decried the action of the FCT authority described it as brazen disobedience to orders of court.
He stated that the act which was allegedly perpetrated by some scavengers in police uniforms, who were hired by the defendants, has crippled the activities of the market.
Ojarikre who chronicled the events leading to the sad development traced it to 2021 when one of the defendant to the suit, Urban Shelter Ltd, erected two bill boards at the premises of the Shopping Center, that they wanted to remodel the shopping complex.
“From that 2020 till date, they have not had the courtesy of even inviting the shop owners for any dialogue. Rather, what they did in their usual divide and rule tactics, is to relate with our tenants who are traders in the market.
” They equally tried to convince the FCT minister that all the parties are on same page. However, the minister remanded them that if they are on same page, then why the court case?
“On March 30, 2023, Development Control came and wrote quit notice on the walls of the shops. We quickly contacted our lawyer who wrote them officially informing them of the pending matter in court as well as the subsequent court order, which has not been set aside.
” We thought the matter has been resolved only for us to come this morning to witness the destruction of the perimeter fence.
“One of the people who carried out the act is with the police and has confessed that they (Scavengers) were hired by one of the defendants.