Okays Obasanjo’s firm’s plea to regularise appeal.
From Kayode Lawal, Abuja
The Supreme Court on Monday in Abuja granted a request by a firm owned by former President Olusegun Obasajo – Ibad Limited – for time to regularise its two appeals.
A five-member panel, led by Justice Centus Nweze granted the request for adjournment sought by Ibad’s lawyer, Ademola Abimbola on realising that his notices of appeal in appeals marked: SC/261/2017 and SC/262/2017 filed since 2017 were defective.
Lawyers to the three respondents in both appeals – Reuben Atabo (SAN) for Consolidated Resources Nig. Ltd (the first respondent) and U. J Obialo for the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCTA) and the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), second and third defendants, did not object to Abimbola’s application.
The Supreme Court then adjourned till February 6, 2024 for hearing.
Both appeals are against the December 9, 2016 judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja which affirmed an earlier judgment of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in which Consolidated Resources, owned by the late General Sani Abacha, was declared the beneficial owner of a dispute parcel of land in the highbrow Maitama, Abuja.
Ibad is, in both appeal, contending that the Court of Appeal, Abuja erred when it affirmed the November 13, 2008 judgment by Justice Sunday Ebenzer Aladetoyinbo of the High Court of the FCT, in suit: FCT/HC/226/1999 without affording it fair hearing.
Consolidated Resources had, through its lawyer, Reuben Atabo (SAN) sued in 1999, stating that in early 1990s it was duly allocated the parcel of land measuring 2.1 hectares, known as Plot 1263, A6, Maitama District after paying all relevant fees to the FCDA, following which the the FCT Minister, Lt. Gen.Jerry Useni issued it with a certificate of occupancy marked: FCT/ABU/MISC/11762 on May 19, 1994.
It added that shortly after it commenced construction works on the land, agents of the FCDA and the FCT Minster moved in, in 1999 and ordered that further construction works be suspended, prompting it to sue.
Consolidated Resources stated that prior to hearing the substantive suit, Justice Aladetoyinbo issued an ex-parte order on May 12, 1999 restraining the FCDA and FCT Minister from reallocating any part of the land to any other person or agency pending the final determination of the suit.
It added that despite the order by Justice Aladetoyinbo, the FCDA and the FCT Minister reallocated part of the land, measuring 3,716.19 square metres, to Ibad Ltd on January 12, 2001.
In his judgment on November 13, 2008 Justice Aladetoyinbo set aside the purported allocation made to Ibad Ltd, upheld Consolidated Resources’ claim to the land and ordered the FCDA and FCT Minister to re-certify its (Consolidated Resources’) certificate of occupancy in respect of the land.
Ibad appealed the decision, but lost at the Court of Appeal, prompting it to now approach the Supreme Court.
