Admin l Friday, June 07, 2019
LAFIA, Nasarawa, Nigeria – A Federal High Court sitting in Lafia, Nasarawa State today ordered the Nasarawa State Government to pay Breeze 99.9 FM the sum of N67.3 million for illegal demolition of the station.
The structure housing Breeze 99.9 FM was demolished when Umaru-Tanko Amakura was governor of the state. Justice Rose Soji, held that the demolition of the station by the government on May 20, 2017 was illegal.
According to Justice Rose Soji, evidence before the court shows that the demolition was in grosss violation of the relevant laws of the state which stipulated that the government ought to give a 21-days notice.
According to the judge, the Nasarawa State Urban Development Board (NUDB) notified the management of the station that the Certificate of Occupancy was for residential on May 11, 2017 and went ahead to demolish the station 9 days later.
“So, from the date the notice was served and when the station was demolished, is just nine days as against the relevant laws of the state. Because of not adhering to the stipulated laws, the demolition is thereby declared illegal and the government should pay N17. 3 as special damages and N50 million as general damages,” the judge added.
Justice Soji also ordered the state government, led by Engr. Abdullahi Sule of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to offer public apology to the management of the station for the illegal act. NAN
