FCDA Disobeys Court Order, Demolishes Structures In Abuja Estate

The Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, officials accompanied by the police and other security personnel, on Wednesday, defied a subsisting court order, and moved into the high-brow River Park Estate, Abuja, with bulldozers, and demolished multi-million structures located within the Estate.

Justice Mohammed Zubairu, of High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Jikwoyi-Kurudu, had on September 17, 2025, granted an injunction restraining officials of FCDA from entering the estate to do anything pending the hearing and determination of a suit against FCDA.

Two property developers, Jonahcapital Nigeria Ltd, and Houses For Africa Nigeria Ltd, had sued the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), in respect of a dispute over ownership of the estate.

Justice Zubairu, had after hearing a motion exparte dated and filed on September 11, 2025, with a motion moved by Anthony Malik (SAN), granted the application of the Plaintiffs/Applicants as prayed, which had sought leave of the court to apply for a judicial review by way of certiorari to set aside the proceedings, report and recommendations of the Ministerial Committee set up by the FCT Minister on the issues affecting River Park Estate Lugbe, Abuja,

Specifically, the court ordered “that the grant of the above relief, supra, shall operate as a stay of action or proceedings in respect of, or in connection with the implementation of the report of the Ministerial Committee.

As at the time of filing this report, the demolition bulldozers, FCDA officials, security operatives were at Cluster One, where the multi billion naira Margaret Lawrence University Teaching Hospital Cancer Centre, which they demolished months ago is under reconstruction.

Mrs Bisi, a resident of the estate and a Council Member of Margaret Lawrence University, told newsmen that it was bizarre to see Development Control bulldozers close to the Cancer Centre at an unofficial time of 6pm, last Friday,
after showing them a copy of the letter and the order of Justice Mohammed Zubairu, of High Court of the FCT, made on September 17, 2025.

Also speaking, Prof. Samuel Asala, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Margaret Lawrence University, expressed dismay that the FCDA officials are coming to pull down to rubbles, an institution where Nigerian students are being trained as medical doctors.

“A Teaching hospital is where the University trains students, and if that is demolished, it’s just setting everything back. These students are going to be trained for Nigerians, not just for the owner of the University, but for Nigerians as a whole.”

It will be recalled that the protracted ownership feud of River Park Estate, climaxed when the Nigerian Police, in June 2025, preferred a 26-count charge against a Nigerian lawyer Abu Arome, and three Ghanaians, namely Sam Jonah, a Knight of British Empire (KBE), Kojo Ansah, Victor Quainoo, and a company, Mobus Property Nigeria Ltd.

The accused persons were billed for arraignment at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Gwarimpa in August 2025, before the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, directed that the case file be transferred to his office.

The charge marked CR/402/2025, dated June 25, but filed on June 26 2025, was endorsed by Isa Garba (esq.), prosecuting counsel, legal/prosecution section, Force headquarters, Abuja.

However, while the AGF is reviewing the case file, the FCT Minister set up a Ministerial Committee which set aside the police final investigation report and forensic report upon which the Ghanaians and their Nigerian lawyer were charged to court, and fronted the Ghanaians as owners of the estate.

Garry Ochigbo, Edited By Grace Namiji