Prince Joseph Kpokpogri, a former lover of Nollywood actress cum politician, Tonto Dikeh, has filed a N2 billion lawsuit against the Federal Capital Territory Development Authority, the FCT Minister, Muhammed Bello, for the demolition of his multi-million naira mansion.
WITHIN NIGERIA had reported how the multi-million naira mansion belonging to Prince Kpokpogri was demolished by the Federal Capital Development Agency (FCDA) in May.
The socialite had approached the court to claim over N2 billion in damages for the illegal demolition of his house by the Abuja authorities who he accused of demolishing his house because he refused to sell it.
In a ruling on Thursday, a high court sitting at Maitama restrained the FCT minister, Muhammad Bello, from further demolishing the residence of Prince Kpokpogri.
The order followed an ex-parte application Kpokpogri filed through his lawyers led by Mike Ozekhome (SAN), who told the court how the FCDA invaded his client’s residence on May 14 with armed policemen, bulldozers, and excavators.
He said they commenced the demolition of his house, beginning with the boys’ quarters, adding that the agents of the FCDA threatened to return for total demolition of Kpokpogri’s house and failed to give any reason for their action.
Ozekhome begged the court to intervene in the matter, in the interest of justice.
In his ruling, Justice Charles Agbaza, said he found merit in the ex-parte application and accordingly granted all the reliefs that were sought by the Applicant. Justice Agbaza held:
“I have carefully perused the affidavit of the Applicant and also listened to the counsel. This court finds merit in the application and it is satisfied that the Applicant has fulfilled all the conditions to warrant the exercise of discretion in his favour.
“The Application has merit and it is accordingly granted.”
He ordered the service of the court order on all the Defendants in the suit, even as he adjourned the matter till July 15 to hear the substantive case.
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