The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, the daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, along with six others, to appear before it on March 6 over a contentious property dispute in Abuja.
Justice Inyang Ekwo issued the summons, directing the defendants to show cause why they should not be restrained from interfering with the property, located at Plot 4254, Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District measuring approximately 1.67 hectares.
Among those summoned are former FCT Senator Philip Aduda, the newly elected President of Ohaneze Ndigbo, John Mbata, as well as Ismail Iro, Jamaila Sani Alhassan, and Altine Jibrin.
Justice Ekwo ordered that the court summons be served through substituted means, requiring the notice to be published in two national newspapers.
The summons follows an ex-parte application (FHC/ABJ/CS/67/2025) filed by ABB Electrical Systems Limited and Chief Ambassador Yohana Y.D. Margif, who are claiming ownership of the disputed land.
Through their counsel, Mr. Abniyilo Na’allah, the plaintiffs sought a restraining order to prevent the defendants from **trespassing, altering, or modifying the property pending the resolution of their lawsuit.
Asserting that they hold the Statutory Right of Occupancy for the land, the plaintiffs argued that any unauthorized entry or modifications by the defendants could cause irreparable damage to their property rights.
“The plaintiffs/applicants have been in quiet and peaceful possession of the land without any challenge from the defendants/respondents or anyone at all,” they stated in their affidavit.
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They further warned that allowing the defendants to tamper with, enter, or alter the property could destroy the subject of litigation and render the court’s final judgment meaningless.
“It will occasion serious miscarriage of justice against the plaintiffs/applicants if the defendants/respondents are allowed to tamper with, enter, trespass, alter or modify the property belonging to the plaintiffs,” they added.
In an affidavit deposed by Chief Margif, the second plaintiff, he affirmed that the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) had allocated the land to ABB Electrical Systems Limited with a Statutory Right of Occupancy issued on May 23, 2006.
He stated that the company had intended to begin development in accordance with FCT regulations, but recent activities by the defendants, including Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, had raised concerns.
Margif urged the court to grant their application in the interest of justice, emphasizing that failure to act could result in serious and irreversible damage.
After reviewing the plaintiffs’ submissions, Justice Ekwo ruled that the court must hear from the defendants before granting any restraining orders.
“Upon studying the prayers and averments in support of the motion ex-parte and the affidavit of urgency, I am of the opinion that the prayers are not such that can be granted without hearing from the defendants,” the judge ruled.
He directed the plaintiffs to notify the defendants within seven days and ordered the defendants to appear before the court and show cause why the requested injunction should not be granted.