An Abuja-based businessman, Prince Joseph Kpokpogri has dragged the Minister of Federal Capital Territory Musa Bello, Senator Gbenga Ashafa (Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Federal Housing Authority), and Mukhtar Galadima (Acting Director, Department of Development Control), and Abuja Metropolitan Management Council to the International Criminal Court, The Hague.

Specifically, Kpokpogiri alleged at the ICC via a criminal complaint that the defendants committed heinous crimes against him by illegally, arbitrarily and forcefully demolishing his house located at Guzape hills, FCT Abuja, alongside various assets worth over N2.5bn with the intent to persecute, torture and render him homeless.

Consequently, Kpokpogiri is demanding among others, an order “That the ICC Prosecutor compels Muhammad Bello, Senator Gbenga Ashafa and Mukhtar Galadima upon conviction under the Rome Statute to jointly pay the sum of $50 million as compensation to cover the cost of our client’s house (inclusive of assets) which was demolished as well as the emotional trauma, mental stress, torture and homelessness he has been suffering from Saturday, 14th May, 2022 till date.

The Complainant submitted that the demolition of his house by agents acting on the instructions of Muhammad Bello, Senator Gbenga Ashafa and Mukhtar Galadima was “actuated by malice and has no semblance of any legal justification.

“The demolition was a pure political gang-up hatched by the government officials to evacuate the Complainant from Abuja for reasons best known to them.

Kpokpogiri’s counsel, Anna Ikwuta, Esq, in the suit dated August 17, 2022, added that the arbitrary demolition of her client’s house by agents of Muhammad Bello, Senator Gbenga Ashafa and Mukhtar Galadima without following due process constituted a gross violation of internationally recognized elements of the right to adequate housing.

“Our client has so far suffered serious emotional trauma, mental stress and damages as a result of the demolition of his house.

“In fact, one of his domestic staff at the Boys Quarters of the demolished building sustained second degree injuries and is presently hospitalized.

“It is, therefore, necessary for the International Community to come in aid of our client by ensuring that the persons who demolished his house are brought to book without delay” Ikwuta stated.

“It is our submission that the situation at hand deserves the urgent intervention of the ICC Prosecutor on the ground that Muhammad Bello, Senator Gbenga Ashafa and Mukhtar Galadima are serving government officials and part of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

“As such, the Federal Government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari may never prosecute them for any reason” Ikwuta declared.

In the light of the foregoing, the Complainant is praying the ICC Prosecutor on his own accord under Article 15 (1) of the Rome Statute, to open a preliminary investigation into the allegations made herein against Muhammad Musa Bello, Senator Gbenga Bareehu Ashafa and Mukhtar Usman Galadima.

“That the ICC Prosecutor also formally “submits to the Pre-Trial Chamber of the ICC a request for authorization of an investigation” of Muhammad Musa Bello, Senator Gbenga Bareehu Ashafa and Mukhtar Usman Galadima under Article 15 (3) of the Rome Statute.

“That the ICC Prosecutor obtain International Arrest Warrant for Muhammad Musa Bello, Senator Gbenga Bareehu Ashafa and Mukhtar Usman Galadima in accordance with Articles 58 (1) (a), 58 (1) (b) (i), 58 (1) (b) (ii) and 58 (1) (b) (iii) and proceed to arrest the Accused from Nigeria so they can face their trial in The Hague, Netherlands for Crimes Against Humanity.

“That the ICC Prosecutor invites our client to The Hague, Netherlands for purposes of tendering more sensitive documents and giving oral testimony concerning his ordeal on Saturday, 14th May, 2022 as masterminded by Muhammad Musa Bello, Senator Gbenga Bareehu Ashafa and Mukhtar Usman Galadima.

“That the ICC Prosecutor compels Muhammad Musa Bello, Senator Gbenga Bareehu Ashafa and Mukhtar Usman Galadima after paying compensation as prayed in paragraph (e) above to tender a public apology to our client through Cable News Network, Inc. (CNN), one international magazine as well as three Nigerian newspapers with a wide readership.

“That the ICC Prosecutor upon conviction of Muhammad Musa Bello, Senator Gbenga Bareehu Ashafa and Mukhtar Usman Galadima facilitates the process of barring them from all territories of the United Kingdom, United States of America and United Arab Emirates for the next ten years to serve as deterrence to other criminally-minded citizens of Nigeria.

In addition, Kpokpogiri submitted that the actions of the accused persons are not only criminal but “widespread” and “systematic” within the meaning of Article 7 (1) of the Rome Statute. Therefore, the accused have committed numerous “Crimes Against Humanity” in flagrant violation of Articles 5 (1) (b), 7 (1) (a), 7 (1) (b) and 7 (1) (f) of the Rome Statute.

“We respectfully conclude that this Criminal Complaint by itself constitutes “a reasonable basis to proceed with an investigation” under Article 15 (3) of the Rome Statute.

“We verily believe that the International Criminal Court being the last hope of common citizens of the world will swiftly offer an arena for investigation and hearing of this case for the sake of justice. Finally, we implore you to open an investigation into this Criminal Complaint and issue a public statement to that effect as same contains facts and evidence susceptible to analysis” Kpokpogiri demanded.

Meanwhile, Prince Kpokpogiri on Tuesday visited the demolished property at Guzape, Abuja.

Speaking to newsmen at the demolished site, Kpokpogiri called on the Federal Government to set up a committee to unravel the circumstances surrounding the total demolition of his house despite a subsisting interim order made by Justice Agbaza of High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on July 7, 2022.

Justice Agbaza had made an interim order upon an ex parte application moved on behalf of Kpokpogri by his lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN, restraining the defendants either by themselves, agents, officials, privies, all those purporting to have derived title from them or other persons howsoever called from trespassing on or further trespassing on, demolishing, or further demolishing the property known as Plots 203 and 204, 27 Road, Gusape District, Apo Estate, Abuja, covered by letters of allocation issued by the Federal Housing Authority with Ref. No. FHA/BD/ES/APO/P.203 and Ref. No. FHA/BD/ES/APO/P.204 or from evicting the occupants of the said property or in any way interfering with the plaintiff’s exclusive right of possession of the said property pending the determination of the motion on notice. (Daily Independent)

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