A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, has fixed May 2, 2024, for the hearing of a committal to prison application brought against the Federal Housing Authority, FHA.
The suit targeted on the Authority’s executive officer is for the respondent to purge himself of the offence of contempt of court which arose from the failure of the FHA obeying court order directing the body to stay action on a property, the subject of litigation before the court of law.
At the resumed hearing of the suit, the FHA counsel, Mr Chris Ekemezie, had prayed the court to strike out the Forms 48 and 49 (notice to show cause and the committal proceeding ) filed against his client to give room for hearing of the main application.
However, Justice Akintunde Savage, the presiding judge disagrees with the prayer.
In his ruling, the judge said there was essential evidence before the court, noting that the evidence was not manufactured by the complainant.
Justice Savage subsequently ordered the complainant’s counsel to file his brief and respond to the applications.
At the last adjourned date, the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) had denied breaching a court order restricting it from demolishing 600 houses at 6th Avenue, Festac Town, Amuwo Odofin in Lagos.
The counsel to the claimants, Mr Adetayo Bello, told the court that he had obtained an injunction against the defendants (FHA and LSBCA).
The motion with Suit No. ID/7396GCM/2023, dated Sept 7, 2023, was brought before Justice O. J. Awope of an Ikeja High Court (sitting as a vacation judge at the time) on Sept. 11, 2023.
Accordingly, the judge gave the order, after a 40-page affidavit dated Sept. 7, deposed by the fourth defendant, Alhaji R A. Balogun and Thaddeus Idenyi, for the claimants.
Awope, had, ordered a pre-emptive order of injunction restraining the first defendant/respondent whether acting by itself or through its agents, from demolishing and/or removing any building or property erected in 6th Avenue Festac Town or any other part of Festac Town.
