A Chief District Judge 1, Mrs Hafsat S. Sadiq, last Wednesday gave an interim order restraining the FCT minister, Federal Capital Development Authority, Abuja Metropolitan Management Control and FCT commissioner of police from demolishing houses or evicting residents of Kagini Village pending the determination of a motion of notice sworn to by Mr Tunde Babalola (JP) on behalf of residents of the area.

The minister and other defendants were restrained pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice fixed for January 15, 2010.

In an affidavit of urgency in support of the motion on notice, Mr Babalola stated that on December 5, 2009, field workers from the Abuja Metropolitan Management Control invaded Kagini in a menacing and intimidating manner with a public address system, warning all residents of Kagini village to move out within two weeks, failing which their houses and property would be demolished as well as destroyed.

"The agents of the defendants during their inhuman campaign told the residents to move out within two weeks or be prepared to spend their Christmas and New Year break outside their homes," the residents added.

The community members stated further that the ultimatum given them was carried out in a military fashion that caused traumatic experience to the elderly women, men and children resident in the area, adding that all entreaties made to the defendants' agents to understand the magnitude of their threat fell on deaf ears as they went ahead marking buildings for demolition.

The residents told the court that they have tried everything possible to let the defendants understand that it is nearly impossible to relocate a whole community within two weeks and that the intended demolition is against the spirit of resettlement, which stipulates that before demolishing premises used for human habitation, the inhabitants must be provided with alternatives.

Our reporter learnt that the community members have taking the demolition threat to the National Assembly, where in separate letters to Senate President and Speaker House of Representatives, the members appealed to the federal legislature to prevail on the FCT minister to reconsider the two weeks ultimate given to the entire community members to pack.

"We are aware that Kagini Village falls within the 4th Phase of FCT development plan and suffice it to say that the FCT Administration is yet to complete the second phase of the FCT Development Plan let alone the fourth phase and the question is why all the rush to demolish Kagini community, causing unprecedented apprehension as well as socio displacement of innocent Nigerians living in the village"? They reasoned.

The residents also disclosed that the FCDA admitted that Kagini village is not within their jurisdiction and is under the STDA, adding that it is designated as an indigenous settlement area from the master plan.

"The contention of Development Control is that there is a provision which excludes non indigenes from living together with indigenes notwithstanding the mutual understanding and it is our submission that if such provision exists, it is discriminatory as well as contrary to the right against discrimination guaranteed by the provisions of the 1979 Constitution," they added.

The community urged both legislative bodies to use their good offices to prevail on the FCT minister and development control to reconsider the two weeks ultimatum as it is not feasible for the relocation of Kagini residents.