A judge in Macapá, Paulo Cesar Madeira, has suspended the lottery for the Janary Nunes housing development for a duration of ten days. This decision follows a request from the Public Defender’s Office, which highlighted issues with the registration process. Specifically, they pointed out that the registration stage was conducted online, resulting in the disqualification of 57,000 individuals who had previously registered in person. As a result of the suspension, all selection, classification, and property handover processes are also put on hold, creating a temporary halt in the project’s progress.

In response to the suspension, the judge has imposed a daily fine of R$ 10,000 if the order is not complied with. The local government, represented by the City Hall of Macapá, claimed that all stages of the registration process were presented to oversight bodies prior to the public announcement of the lottery. This has led to ongoing tensions between the government and the Defensoria, which are complicated further by the implications of denied access for many individuals betting on their chances for housing.

The decision has also prompted the judge to call for a conciliation hearing involving the Public Defender's Office, the Public Ministry, and the Housing Secretariat (Semhou) to seek a resolution. This hearing is seen as critical for ensuring that the rights of individuals impacted by the irregularities are protected while maintaining the integrity of the housing lottery process.