An Abuja High Court has threatened to commit the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesome Wike, to prison for alleged contempt of court.
Also threatened with the same order is the Director of Federal Capital Development Authority, Mukhtar Galadima, who was also said to have violated the same court order.
The Suit No: FCT / HC/1718/2019 was instituted by the claimant, Mac-Jeam International Enterprises Ltd against: Toub Associates Ltd and Theophilus Ubani as Defendants/Applicants as well as against the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (Wike) and Federal Capital Development Authority (represented by Murhktar U. Galadima) as Defendants/Contemnors.
In the Form 48 of the court paper titled: ‘Notice of the consequences of disobedience to Court pursuant to Order IX, Rule13 of the Sheriffs and Civil process Act, CAP. 551 LFN, 2004, issued on April 1, 2024’, the defendants were warned to obey the court order.
Similarly, in the Form 49, the defendants were also put on notice that they will have to show cause why order of attachment should not be made, brought pursuant to Order IX, Rule 13 of the Sheriffs and Civil process Act, CAP. 551 LFN, 2024.
As the case comes up today for hearing, the Defendants/ Applicants are expected to apply to the Court for: “An ORDER for committal to prison of the 3rd and 4th Defendants/Contemnors represented by Nyesom Wike and Murkhtar Galadima for having disobeyed the Order of this Court made on the 18th day of October, 2023 enjoining and restraining them from tampering with the res of this matter pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice”.
It could be recalled that a few weeks after an estate, worthabout N10 billion, was demolished in Abuja by the Federal Capital Territory, another estate, worth N3 billion was on Friday, demolished allegedly on the orders of the Minister in Maitama Hills, Mpape in Bwari Area Council of Abuja.
However, speaking to journalists, the manager of the estate that was under construction, Eze Innocent Okpara, said they started developing the estate around 2019 and it was at different stages of development before the demolition exercise.
Speaking to the counsel of the developer, Tony Ogbulafor, he said the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) should call the Minister of FCT to order.
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