Court adjourns property dispute case against Iyabo Obasanjo and others

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday adjourned to July 9 for hearing a suit filed against Senator Iyabo Obasanjo and others over an Abuja property.

The case, which was before Justice Mohammed Umar as of March 30, had now been reassigned to Justice Inyang Ekwo, who had previously heard the case.

The matter, which figured eighth in the day’s cause list, however, could not proceed and was scheduled for July 9 for further mention.

On March 30, when the case came up before Justice Umar, neither the plaintiffs’ nor the defendants’ counsel were in court and the case was fixed for June 10.

Justice Umar had, on January 6, fixed the date of March 30 for the matter following the absence of lawyers in court.

When the case emerged on October 2, 2025, the hearing could not proceed in the same way.

The plaintiffs’ lawyer, Abniyilo Na’allah, had requested an adjournment due to the inability to serve the defendants in the case as no lawyer had appeared for the defense.

The plaintiffs; ABB Electrical Systems Limited and Amb. Yohana Margif, had dragged Senator Obasanjo and other co-accused to court over a land dispute.

The property is located at plot 4254, cadastral area A04, measuring approximately 1.67 hectares in Asokoro District, FCT, Abuja.

Other defendants in the case include former FCT senator, Philip Aduda; Ismail iron; John Mbata; Jamaila Sani Alhassan; Altine Jibrin and persons unknown as defendants 2nd to 7th, respectfully.

The case was previously before Justice Ekwo, before Justice Umar took over last year, and has now been reassigned to Ekwo for adjudication.

Justice Ekwo had, on January 28, 2025, refused to entertain the ex parte motion filed by the plaintiffs after it was moved by Na’allah.

The appellants had sought an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants/respondents from entering, trespassing, altering or modifying the property known as lot 4254, cadastral zone A04.

The land is approximately 1.67 hectares, Asokoro, Asokoro District Abuja.

The judge, however, directed the appellants to warn the accused to hear from them why the prayer should not be answered.

The plaintiffs had filed the motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/67/2025 dated January 13, 2025, but filed on January 17, 2025 by Na’allah.

In their six-plea argument, the plaintiffs said they were concerned that the defendants would trespass on or alter their property.

They claimed to be the rightful owners of the land by virtue of the right of occupation granted to them by law.

The plaintiffs/appellants have claimed that they have been in quiet and peaceful possession of the land without any challenge from the defendants/defendants or anyone else.

They stated that this would cause a grave miscarriage of justice against the plaintiffs/appellants if the defendants/defendants were allowed to tamper with, enter, trespass, alter or modify the property belonging to the plaintiffs.

The plaintiffs allege that if the defendants had not been detained they would have suffered irreparable harm.

Margif, in the affidavit he filed, stated that the company (first plaintiff) was allotted the parcel of land by the Federal Capital Development Administration (FCDA) covered by a statutory right of occupancy with new issue date of May 23, 2006.

He said the company intends to begin developing the said land in accordance with the terms contained in the Statutory Occupation Law and other guiding rules and laws within the FCT.

He said the recent activities of the defendants, including Senator Obasanjo, who represented Ogun Central Senatorial District between 2007 and 2011, had become worrying.

Margif prayed the court to grant their request in the interest of justice.