Abuja — Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Adamu Aliero, has vowed not to soft-pedal on the administration's legal battle with owners of 21 palatial buildings marked for demolition in Gwarinpa Housing Estate, Abuja for violating building code.

Speaking after an inspection tour of the massive estate, the minister directed the administration's lawyers to intensify work on the case and ensure victory for government to safeguard the environment.

The Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) had marked the buildings for demolition since June having been sited on green areas meant to allow for free flow of floodwaters but the owners headed for the court and secured an injunction against the FCT authorities.

The owners were allotted the plots by the Federal Ministry of Works which runs the estate but the location of the buildings across water routes clearly violates the FCT building regulations, the minister said.

Aliero said government will obey the court ruling but that it would pursue the matter to its logical conclusion in line with the President Umaru Yar'Adua administration's mantra of rule of law.