Demolition: Court grants order to serve notices of committal proceedings on Wike
2026-03-03 - 17:58
An Abuja High Court has granted an order directing that notices of committal proceedings be served on the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, by substituted means, following a demolition exercise allegedly carried out in contravention of the court’s valid order. Justice Hamza Mu’azu gave the order after N. I. Usman, who appeared for the claimant, Mykas Grid Ventures Limited, moved a motion ex parte to the effect. Justice Mu’azu granted the company permission to serve Forms 48 and 49 on the minister via newspaper publication. A certified true copy (CTC) of the order issued on Monday was sighted in Abuja on Tuesday. “It is hereby ordered as follows: “Leave of this honourable court is granted to the claimant/applicant to serve the Form 48 and Form 49 on the 1st defendant (minister) by substituted means, to wit: by advertising same in two newspapers circulating within Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and consider same as proper service. “Leave of this honourable court is granted to the claimant/applicant to serve the writ of summons and all other processes in this suit on the 2nd defendant by substituted means, to wit: by advertising same in two national newspapers circulating in Lagos and Abuja and consider same as proper service. The judge then adjourned the matter until March 9 for a hearing. A copy of the Form 48, signed by the court registrar and issued on Feb. 25, is titled: “Notice of Consequences of Disobedience to Order of Court,” and addressed to the minister of FCT. It reads: “Take notice that unless you obey the order of Honourable Justice H. Mu’azu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court 24, Abuja, dated 10th February, 2026, thus: “Parties are directed to maintain the status quo pending the hearing of the motion on notice. “Take further notice that unless you obey the above order, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to the Correctional Centre.” The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mykas Grid Ventures Ltd has sued the FCT Minister and Italia Company Ltd as the 1st and 2nd defendants, respectively. Mykas Grid, in the ex parte motion marked: M/16354/2025 and filed on Dec. 5, 2025, by a team of lawyers led by Bala Dalum, had sought two prayers. One of the reliefs was “an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants from forcefully taking possession of Plot No. A06/4583 with file no. MISC 129288 measuring about 8,572.60m2, also known as Park 2023, Maitama District, Abuja, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.” Justice Mu’azu had, on Feb. 10, granted the order directing parties to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice before him. The judge granted the order following the motion ex parte moved by Hussaina Tukur, a lawyer. Justice Mu’azu then adjourned the matter until April 23 for hearing. However, officers of the Development Control Department of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), along with security personnel, on Feb. 24 allegedly moved to the site on the minister’s directive to demolish its fence and the security house, despite a subsisting court order. Vanguard News