An Abuja High Court yesterday rejected an application filed by a South African company and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to set aside its order restraining them from tampering with land around Lugbe, Abuja, pending the determination of the suit over the ownership of the land.
On August 12, the court had ordered the FCDA,
Jonah Capital Nigeria Limited and Houses For Africa Nigeria Limited to stay off the disputed land area pending a lawsuit brought by hundreds of people accusing the firms of wanting to take over their land. However, the two firms asked the court to set aside the order on the grounds that they were not properly served with the court processes.
Although the firms admitted that a secretary with the organisation, Queen Elizabeth Inogba, was served with the court processes leading to the said restraining order, they contended that service on her was flawed since she was not a management level employee.
But counsel to the three sets of plaintiffs - Blessed and Precious Children Academy, General Building Material Dealers Association, Lugbe Chapter and Lugbe 1 Land Owners Association - Valentine Offiah, opposed the firms' application.
In his ruling, Justice Peter Afem agreed with Mr. Offiah and said that the act of serving the secretary of the firm was proper and accordingly valid.
"The application of the 2nd and 3rd respondents accordingly fails and is hereby rejected", the judge ruled.
Source:http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Politics/5642602-147/court_stops_firms_from_taking_over.csp
On August 12, the court had ordered the FCDA,
Jonah Capital Nigeria Limited and Houses For Africa Nigeria Limited to stay off the disputed land area pending a lawsuit brought by hundreds of people accusing the firms of wanting to take over their land. However, the two firms asked the court to set aside the order on the grounds that they were not properly served with the court processes.
Although the firms admitted that a secretary with the organisation, Queen Elizabeth Inogba, was served with the court processes leading to the said restraining order, they contended that service on her was flawed since she was not a management level employee.
But counsel to the three sets of plaintiffs - Blessed and Precious Children Academy, General Building Material Dealers Association, Lugbe Chapter and Lugbe 1 Land Owners Association - Valentine Offiah, opposed the firms' application.
In his ruling, Justice Peter Afem agreed with Mr. Offiah and said that the act of serving the secretary of the firm was proper and accordingly valid.
"The application of the 2nd and 3rd respondents accordingly fails and is hereby rejected", the judge ruled.
Source:http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Politics/5642602-147/court_stops_firms_from_taking_over.csp
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