Court gavel
A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama has warned parties involved in the lingering dispute over the Apo Resettlement Market project to obey an existing stop-work order or face possible sanctions for contempt.
Justice Yusuf Halilu gave the warning during proceedings in the suit involving Dr Shuaibu Musari, Manillah Integrated Partners Ltd and AMAC Investment Development Company over ownership and development issues surrounding the market project.
The court had earlier issued an interlocutory injunction on April 15, 2025, directing all parties to halt construction activities on the disputed site pending the determination of the substantive case.
The order was subsequently served on the parties and enforced by court bailiffs, who pasted “Stop Work” notices at the site on April 28, 2025.
Despite the directive, allegations emerged before the court that construction activities allegedly continued at the location, prompting contempt proceedings against some of the parties involved.
At the resumed hearing, counsel to the first defendant, Barrister Realwan Okpanachi, informed the court that the injunction was allegedly being ignored by some parties despite remaining valid and subsisting.
While cross-examining a witness, Okpanachi drew the attention of the court to what he described as repeated violations of the order.
Justice Halilu frowned at the development and urged lawyers in the matter to advise their clients to strictly comply with the court directive.
The judge maintained that a court order remains binding until set aside by a competent court, regardless of whether an appeal has been filed.
Counsel to the first claimant, Idris Abubakar (SAN), however accused the second defendant of allegedly resorting to self-help by marking structures at the site and engaging persons who reportedly attacked workers.
He argued that the interlocutory injunction was already the subject of an appeal and urged the court to exercise discretion regarding any visit to the disputed site.
But Justice Halilu insisted that filing an appeal does not invalidate a subsisting court order.
He appealed to all parties to respect the sanctity of the court and avoid actions capable of undermining judicial authority.
Speaking with journalists after the proceedings, Okpanachi said the defence had completed cross-examination of a subpoenaed witness and confirmed that the matter was adjourned to June 1 for the commencement of defence.
He accused the claimants of disobeying valid court orders despite initiating the suit themselves.
“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,” he said.
According to him, further legal steps may be taken against anyone allegedly found violating the court order, including investors connected to the project.
“We have filed an application and we will be moving that application on the next adjourned date for the court to order police and law enforcement agencies to ensure that everybody seen on the site in disobedience to court order, whether investor or claimant, shall be arrested and tried for contempt of court,” he added.
Okpanachi stressed that contempt proceedings were necessary to protect the integrity of the judiciary and ensure compliance with lawful directives.
Also reacting after the proceedings, a representative of Dr. Musari, Ameh Kennedy Gabriel, expressed concern that parties who instituted the suit were allegedly violating the court order.
“We are law-abiding citizens and we have respected the court order. Unfortunately, those who took us to court have decided not to obey the same order,” he said.
He advised prospective investors to exercise caution pending the final determination of the case by the court.
