A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has ordered the Rivers State Government to pay N1.1 billion in compensation for the unlawful demolition and forceful takeover of properties belonging to residents of waterfront communities in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area.
The ruling follows a lawsuit filed in 2022 by affected residents from Egede, Iruala, Elechi Phase One, and other communities, who alleged that their fundamental rights had been violated when their homes were demolished by the previous administration led by former Governor Nyesom Wike.
In delivering judgment, Justice Sika Aprioku found that the state government had failed to issue prior notice before carrying out the demolition and had no legal proof of purchasing the land from the residents.
The court also condemned the government’s use of security forces and hired individuals to forcibly evict the occupants without providing alternative shelter or compensation.
As a result, the judge awarded N900 million to the applicants for the violation of their rights, alongside an additional N200 million in damages.
Reacting to the judgment, the applicants’ counsel, Tonye Igeri of the Justice and Empowerment Initiative, expressed satisfaction, stating that the ruling serves as a significant step toward restoring justice to those displaced by the demolition.
However, a representative from the Rivers State Ministry of Justice, who defended the government in court, declined to comment on the verdict.
