Court Orders Iyabo Obasanjo, Others to Defend Claims in Abuja Land Dispute

The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has summoned Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, the eldest daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, alongside six other individuals to appear before it on March 6. The case revolves around a disputed piece of land in Abuja, and the court has ordered the defendants to show cause why they should not be restrained from trespassing on the property located at Plot 4254, Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, which spans approximately 1.67 hectares.

Other individuals named in the summons include former Senator for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Philip Aduda; newly elected President of Ohaneze Ndigbo, John Mbata; and others, including Ismail Iro, Jamaila Sani Alhassan, and Altine Jibrin.

The court’s ruling, delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo, directed that the summons be served through substituted means, which would include publishing the notices in two national newspapers.

The action followed an ex-parte application filed by two plaintiffs, ABB Electrical Systems Limited and Chief Amb. Yohana Y.D. Margif, who are seeking the court’s intervention in the matter. The plaintiffs, through their lawyer, Mr. Abniyilo Na’allah, requested a restraining order to prevent the defendants from entering, trespassing, or altering the disputed land until the case is resolved.

In their application, the plaintiffs assert that they are the rightful owners of the land, as it was granted to them through a Statutory Right of Occupancy issued by the Federal Capital Development Administration (FCDA) on May 23, 2006. They also expressed concern that the defendants were attempting to forcibly take possession of the property, despite the plaintiffs’ peaceful and uncontested possession.

The plaintiffs further argued that if the defendants were allowed to interfere with the land, it would cause irreparable damage and undermine the court’s ability to render a fair judgment. They also emphasized that the destruction or alteration of the land would make any future court decision irrelevant.

Chief Margif, the second plaintiff, stated that his company intended to begin developing the property in accordance with the legal guidelines set forth by the FCDA and other governing laws in the FCT. He expressed growing alarm over recent actions by the defendants, including Senator Obasanjo, who represented Ogun Central Senatorial District between 2007 and 2011.

After hearing from the plaintiffs’ counsel, Justice Ekwo ruled that the defendants must be put on notice within seven days, and they will be required to show cause on the scheduled court date why the restraining orders should not be granted. The case has set the stage for a significant legal battle over the ownership and control of the land in question.