Lawyer Sues Housing Ministry, FHA Over Alleged Property Redesign
A practicing lawyer, Charles Gabriel, has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and its agency, the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), over allegations that the FHA is attempting to illegally alter and redesign parts of Lugbe Estate in Abuja. Gabriel claims the changes will block access to his shops and devalue his property.
In the suit filed at an Abuja High Court, Gabriel is seeking a court declaration that the FHA’s actions are illegal and an order to halt the redesign. He is also demanding ₦500 million in general damages and ₦5 million to cover the cost of the litigation.
Gabriel’s counsel, U. I. Obeuwou, filed the suit on his behalf, naming the Attorney General of the Federation as the first defendant. The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, and the Federal Housing Authority are also listed as defendants.
The Lawyer’s Claims
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According to the court filing, Gabriel claims he bought two shops, located at 1 and 3 1H. Road in Lugbe Estate, in March 2004. He alleges that since 2019, unidentified staff of the FHA have repeatedly tried to measure and redesign the 385-square-meter area in front of his shops, which was not originally designated for new plots or buildings.
Gabriel says these attempts are a calculated effort to illegally allocate the land to FHA staff, their allies, and cronies. He claims the redesign would block direct access to the road, infringing on his “right of appurtenances, easement, ingress and egress,” and ultimately devaluing his property.
The suit details several instances where Gabriel says he had to write letters of complaint to authorities. Each time, he claims, the FHA verbally denied involvement and temporarily stopped the illegal activities, only for the attempts to resume later.
Gabriel says he was left with no choice but to take legal action after the FHA allegedly proceeded with the plan despite his latest letter of complaint on July 10, 2025. He says the agency is now on the verge of issuing allocation papers for the redesigned plots, which would allow allottees to begin construction and permanently obstruct access to his shops.
In the filing, Gabriel states he has “passed through excruciating pains” as a result of the defendants’ actions and is urging the court to intervene. He is asking the court to declare the alleged alteration and redesign of his property as “illegal, wrongful, ultra vires, null and void and of no effect on the Claimant.”
By PRNigeria
