A high court in Rivers State, Port Harcourt has ordered the state government to pay N1.1 billion to residents whose properties were illegally demolished at Mile One and Two waterfront in Port Harcourt LGA.
As revealed, the resident sued Rivers state government in 2022 for violating their fundamental human rights. The affected areas are Egede, Iruala, Elechi Phase One, Elechi Beach Waterfront, Nanka, Ogwu Waterfront, Okwele and Soku Waterfront.
Justice Sika Aprioku while giving his ruling, also found the government guilty of forcefully taking over their lands. The justice addded that the Rivers state government failed to notify the residents before the demolition and also failed to prove the land was acquired legally.
The high court also criticized the government for failing to provide an alternative housing or compensation to the residents. The court further criticized the government for using police to forcefully take over their land.
The court in its ruling ordered the state government to pay N900 million as compensation for violating their fundamental human rights and an additional N2 million as a fine.
While speaking to newsmen, the lawyer representing the resident, Tonye Igeri expressed delight over the ruling. He said “this judgment restores hope to the victims who were made homeless by the government’s actions.
“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,” he added.
