A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Maitama District has warned parties involved in the Apo Resettlement Market dispute to comply strictly with an interlocutory injunction halting construction at the site pending determination of the substantive suit.
The court cautioned that any party found violating the order risks facing sanctions.
The court had earlier, on April 15, 2025, ordered all parties in the matter — Dr. Shuaibu Musari (first defendant), Manillah Integrated Partners Ltd (first claimant) and AMAC Investment Development Company (second defendant) — to suspend all construction activities at the disputed market.
The directive was subsequently served on the parties and enforced by court bailiffs, who pasted a “Stop Work” notice and marked the premises on April 28, 2025.
However, reports before the court alleged that Manillah Integrated Partners Ltd and AMAC Investment Development Company continued construction activities despite the subsisting order, prompting Dr. Musari to initiate contempt proceedings.
At the resumed hearing on May 7, 2026, counsel to the first defendant, Barrister Realwan Okpanachi, while cross-examining Principal Witness Two, Hassan Ahmed Omale, drew the attention of the presiding judge, Justice Yusuf Halilu, to what he described as repeated disobedience of the court’s injunction.
Justice Halilu frowned at the alleged violation and directed counsel to advise their clients to comply with the court order or risk sanctions.
Counsel to the first claimant, Idris Abubakar, SAN, alleged that the second defendant resorted to self-help by pasting the court order at the site, marking buildings and allegedly hiring persons who attacked workers with machetes and other dangerous weapons.
He further argued that the second defendant should open its defence rather than delay proceedings with what he described as unnecessary applications.
It was gathered that although the first claimant filed a notice of appeal against the interlocutory injunction, no further steps had been taken regarding the appeal.
Abubakar also informed the court that the injunction was already a subject of appeal and urged that any visit to the locus in quo should remain at the discretion of the court.
Responding, Justice Halilu maintained that a court order remains binding whether appealed against or not, except it is set aside by a court of competent jurisdiction, and urged all parties to uphold the sanctity of the court.
Speaking with journalists after proceedings, counsel to the first defendant, Barrister Realwan Okpanachi, said:
“Today they brought in a subpoena witness. He testified at the last adjourned date and today is for cross examination of the witness and we have cross examined him.
“The matter has been adjourned to June 1 for defence and it will start from the first defendant.
“We also brought to the attention of the court conducts of the first claimants in this matter in disobeying the order of the court which is subsistent; which is valid, hinged on the failed excuse that they are on appeal.
“The fact that a party is on appeal is not a liberty to disobey, rape and ignore order of the court, that won’t augur well for the society.
“We brought this to the attention of the court and my Lord has advised all Counsels involved to advise their clients to stay clear and obey the court order and we hope that going forward, they will hearken to the admonition of the Court obey the extant order of this Honourable Court, which is subsistent; which is valid; which has not been set aside by any court.
“We also informed the court of the fact that as at the time the Suit was filed, there was an endorsement in the writ of summons that parties must maintain status quo.
“They filed the matter not us, they refused to obey that endorsement. We went further to file an application for interlocutory order, which the court graciously granted, yet they refused to obey the order of the court.
“Yes, we may file an application on the next adjourned date to ensure that everybody connected or related in this matter, that is acting in disobedience to this court order, including investors in the project, that such a person will be arrested and tried for contempt of the court.
“We have filed an application and we will be moving that application on the next adjourned date, for the court to order police and the law enforcement agencies to ensure that everybody seen on the site in disobedience to court order, whether you are an investor, or claimant, shall be arrested and tried for contempt of court.
“Contempt of court is not a light issue. It is an issue that is taken seriously because if an order of the court can be ignored, jettisoned and breached by a party, or anybody at will, it means there is no society. We must do everything to ensure that the integrity of the Court is not taken to disrepute.”
Also reacting, representative of Dr. Shuaibu Musari, Ameh Kennedy Gabriel, expressed concern over alleged disobedience to the court order.
“We are the defendant. They took us to court and the court gave an interlocutory order. We as law abiding citizens have respected the Court order. Unfortunately, that took us to Court Manilah, has decided not to obey the court order. That is why we are in court to prosecute them.
“We are ever ready for defence. We have nothing to hide and that is why we are confident and we have never miss Court one day.
“I will advice generally, those that are investing in the business should be very careful as the case is still very much pending in court until the judgment is delivered.”
The matter was adjourned to June 1, 2026, for commencement of defence.
