Senator Bala Muhammed, FCT Minister
By Adebiyi Adedapo
Human Right Lawyer, Femi Falana, has warned the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Muhammed, and the FCT authority against the proposed demolition of buildings at the Mpape district of the FCT.
Falana who is representing the Mpape residents in court stated in a letter dated August 9, 2012 that it was imperative to officially draw the minister’s attention to the ruling of Justice Abubakar Kutigi of an Abuja High Court sitting in Bwari, delivered on August 3 in the suit filed against his proposed demolition.
Falana, who reacted to statement issued by the Minister last Monday, where the minister stated that the August 31 deadline for Mpape residents to vacate their homes still stands.
Specifically, Falana said that the trial court asked him not to do anything that would have the effect of destroying the substance of the case before the matter is finally determined.
According to the letter, “In his ruling, the learned trial judge at page 24 reiterated the fact thus “it is now trite principle of general application that parties including government agencies or institutions such as defendants have no right to take matters into their own hands once a matter is in court.”
It stated further “It behoves on all parties therefore to ensure that they do anything that would have the effect of hoisting on the court a situation of complete hopelessness any orders the court may make when the matter is finally determined.”
He urged the minister to be mindful of the fact that FCT is a creation of law and must act within the confines of the law.
“We have officially on the strength of this letter notify your good offices not to act contrary to the dictates and spirit of the law by listening to overzealous public officials who may want to hijack the present situation to perpetrate evil motive. We urge you to comply with the ruling of the court,’’ he concluded.