The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned until January 25, 2027, the hearing of a suit instituted against former Senator Iyabo Obasanjo and six others over a disputed parcel of land in the Asokoro District of the Federal Capital Territory.
The case, which was listed as number 19 on Monday’s cause list, could not proceed and was adjourned for further mention.
The suit, initially handled by Justice Mohammed Umar, was reassigned to Justice Inyang Ekwo, who had previously presided over the matter.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the case has suffered several adjournments since it was instituted, with proceedings unable to commence on multiple scheduled dates.
On June 10, the matter could not be heard due to the volume of pre-election cases before Justice Ekwo and was adjourned until July 9. Proceedings were again stalled on July 9, leading to another adjournment to Monday.
Earlier, on March 30, when the case came up before Justice Umar, neither the plaintiffs’ lawyer nor counsel to the defendants was present in court, prompting another adjournment until June 10.
Justice Umar had initially fixed March 30 for hearing on January 6, following the absence of the lawyers in court. Proceedings had also failed to commence on October 2, 2025, after counsel to the plaintiffs, Abniyilo Na’allah, requested an adjournment because the defendants had not been served with court processes.
The plaintiffs, ABB Electrical Systems Limited and Ambassador Yohana Margif, instituted the suit against Obasanjo and other defendants over ownership and possession of a parcel of land measuring approximately 1.67 hectares at Plot 4254, Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, Abuja.
Other defendants are former Senator representing the FCT, Philip Aduda; Ismail Iron; Senator John Mbata; Jamaila Alhassan; Altine Jibrin; and unidentified persons, listed as the second to seventh defendants.
The case was initially before Justice Ekwo before it was transferred to Justice Umar last year. It has now been reassigned to Ekwo for adjudication.
NAN reports that on January 28, 2025, Justice Ekwo declined to grant an ex-parte application by the plaintiffs seeking an interim injunction to restrain the defendants from entering, trespassing on, altering or modifying the disputed property.
Instead, the judge directed the plaintiffs to put the defendants on notice to enable them to respond to the application before any decision could be taken.
The application, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/67/2025, was dated January 13, 2025, and filed on January 17, 2025, by Na’allah.
In a six-ground argument supporting the application, the plaintiffs said they feared that the defendants might trespass on or alter the property, which they claimed to own by virtue of a statutory Right of Occupancy.
They maintained that they had been in peaceful possession of the land without any challenge from the defendants or any other person.
“The plaintiffs/applicants have been in quiet and peaceful possession of the land without any challenge from the defendants/respondents or anyone at all.
“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.
“Allowing the defendants/respondents to tamper with, enter, trespass, alter or modify the property belonging to the plaintiffs will destroy the res and render the judgment of this court nugatory,” they said.
The plaintiffs further argued that they would suffer irreparable damage if the defendants were not restrained from interfering with the property.
In an affidavit deposed to by Margif, he stated that the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) allocated the land to ABB Electrical Systems Limited under a Statutory Right of Occupancy, with a new issue date of May 23, 2006.
He said the company intended to commence development of the property in accordance with the conditions contained in the Right of Occupancy and other applicable laws and regulations governing land development in the FCT.
Margif, however, expressed concern over what he described as recent activities by the defendants, including Obasanjo, who represented Ogun Central Senatorial District in the Senate between 2007 and 2011.
He urged the court to grant the application in the interest of justice.
