National Telescope national telescope newspaper
Chibuzor Alli
In a significant development, a High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has mandated the state government to pay a sum of N1.1 billion to residents whose properties were unlawfully demolished at the Mile One and Two waterfronts.
This ruling emphasises the court’s determination to uphold the rights of the affected citizens, who took legal action against the government for the unwarranted confiscation of their lands.
The ruling specifically addresses residents from areas such as Egede, Iruala, Elechi Phase One, Elechi Beach Waterfront, Nanka, Ogwu Waterfront, Okwele, and Soku Waterfront, who filed a lawsuit in 2022 citing violations of their fundamental rights.
During the hearing on Wednesday, Justice Sika Aprioku asserted that the government failed to notify the residents prior to the demolitions and could not provide evidence of legal land acquisition.
The court did not hold back in its criticism of the government’s actions, emphasizing that the authorities had neglected to offer alternative housing or compensation to those displaced. Instead, they resorted to police intervention to forcibly reclaim the land for urban development purposes. Justice Aprioku ordered the Rivers State government to pay N900 million in compensation for the infringements on the residents’ rights, along with a fine of N2 million.
In comments to the press, the residents’ legal representative, Tonye Igeri of the Justice and Empowerment Initiative, expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision.
“This judgment restores hope to the victims who were made homeless by the government’s actions,” Igeri stated, underscoring the importance of the ruling for the affected families.
He also highlighted the urgency of ensuring that the victims receive the compensation awarded, noting the heartbreaking reality that many have lost their lives or everything they owned as a result.
Igeri advised the government to heed the court’s message: “My advice to the government, as the court stated, is to properly identify affected property owners, provide alternative shelter, or compensate them adequately before carrying out demolitions.”
Meanwhile, a representative from the Rivers State Ministry of Justice chose not to comment on the court’s ruling.
