The demolition exercise carried out on the house of ex-Tonto Dike’s lover, Joseph Egbri popularly known as Kpokpogri, has been halted following an order by a Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday.
This was disclosed by the lawyer representing Kpokpogri, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), who spoke to newsmen in Abuja shortly after the court proceedings.
This is also as the defendant moves to file over N2 billion damages against the Federal Capital Territory Development Authority, the FCT Minister, Muhammed Bello, among others, as compensation.
Kpokpogri had cried out over the demolition of his house said to be worth N700 million by the FCTA in May.
He said the reason was said to be an “order from above.” He had since been battling the FCTA over the demolition, with which some groups had also protested and petitioned relevant agencies over the demolition.
Speaking on Thursday, Ozekhome said the action had no legal basis as the house got the necessary approvals. Kpokpogri had also claimed that the FCTA monitored the construction of the house from the foundation to completion.
However, the FCTA had claimed in May that Kpokpogri’s house lacked necessary approvals, saying it was built on a major highway, and having warned against it, he continued with the construction.
However, the lawyer maintained that his client, “a former landlord, was made to become a tenant.”
He noted that justice may be slow, but it would eventually prevail.
He added that Justice Agbasa had “granted our request to restrain the authorities from continuing with the demolition. They did not complete the demolition, they promised to come back,” he said.
“At the end of the day, we are claiming over N2 billion damages,” he said, adding that some property were carted away according to a video that captured those that came to carry our the demolition.
The case was subsequently adjourned till Friday, July 15, 2022.
