Justice Mohammed Zubairu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, sitting in Jikwoyi-Kurudu, on Monday, fixed November 5 for the hearing of a suit seeking judicial review of the proceedings, report, and recommendations of the Ministerial Committee set up by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, on the River Park Estate ownership dispute.

The matter was adjourned as counsel to the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and the FCT Minister, 1st and 2nd Respondents respectively, could not file and serve their reply processes on the Applicants.

At the resumed sitting, Anthony Malik (SAN) announced his appearance for the Applicants, Paulo Homes Nigeria Ltd and House For Africa Nigeria Ltd.

Emmanuel Ukala (SAN) represented the 1st Respondent (FCT Minister) and the 2nd Respondent (Federal Capital Development Authority).

Sunday Ameh (SAN) appeared for one Kojo Mensah, a party seeking to be joined in the matter, while Ojonimi Apeh stood for the majority shareholder of Jonahcapital Nigeria Ltd, Dr. Adeniran Ogunmuyiwa.

Gilies Anazia, Managing Director of Paulo Homes Nigeria Ltd, and Azike Vincent, Director of Houses For Africa Nigeria Ltd, were all present in court.

In his opening submission, Malik recalled that on September 17, the judge granted the Applicants leave to apply for judicial review of the proceedings, report, and recommendations of the Ministerial Committee set up by the FCT Minister on River Park Estate.

Malik also told the judge that the court had ordered that the leave would serve as a stay of further actions on the River Park Estate matter, meaning the FCT Authority could not implement the report until the court determined the matter.

Subsequently, the Applicants’ counsel informed the court that, in view of those proceedings, he filed a motion on notice on September 18.

However, Malik told the judge that all processes in respect of the motion on notice had been served on the Respondents, and none of the Respondents had entered a memorandum of appearance or filed any reply processes.

Consequently, the senior lawyer argued that, having not filed any process, the Respondents had effectively conceded all the issues raised by the Applicants in their application.

He announced his readiness to argue the motion despite the absence of a reply.

Reacting, Ukala (SAN) told Justice Zubairu that the 1st and 2nd Respondents had instructed his chamber last week to represent them in the matter.

He said their processes were ready and would soon be filed and served on the Applicants.

“As a result, we couldn’t file our reply processes today. We have copies of the processes we intend to file here in court. Even if we had filed today, we are still within time. Therefore, it is not correct to say there is no defence,” Ukala submitted.

He urged the court to discountenance Malik’s application on behalf of the Applicants to allow the court to hear the motion for judicial review.

On his part, Ameh informed the court that he was not aware of the pendency of the matter until Thursday last week.

He said the Applicants’ counsel had been served with the joinder application in court and assured the court that he would serve the counsel to the 1st and 2nd Respondents with the application.

Malik confirmed that Ukala (SAN) had indeed extended the courtesy of advancing copies of the processes he had filed a few minutes earlier.

In a short ruling, Justice Zubairu adjourned the matter to November 5 for the hearing of the motion on notice.

It will be recalled that Justice Mohammed Zubairu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory had, on September 17, 2025, fixed October 6 for the hearing of the motion marked M/11417/2025, after hearing a motion ex-parte filed and moved by Anthony Malik (SAN), with Homa Ihunwo and Edward Ajaba, on behalf of the Applicants, Paulo Homes Nigeria Ltd and Houses For Africa Nigeria Ltd.

The Respondents in the motion were the FCT Minister and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).

Upon hearing the ex-parte motion filed on September 11, 2025, Justice Zubairu granted the application for judicial review by way of certiorari.

“I have carefully read both the affidavit in support of the instant application and the further affidavit of the Applicants. I also read through the entire application together with the written submissions of the learned counsel.

“I must state that what I have found from all of these is substantial compliance with the law. The instant application has complied with the rules of this court, ought to be granted, and has accordingly been granted as prayed,” Justice Zubairu stated.

According to an enrolment order of the court sighted by newsmen on Sunday, certified by Justice Zubairu and dated September 17, 2025, the court held that:

“Sequel to the provisions of Order 43 Rule 3(6)(a) of the Rules of this Court 2025, the leave just granted shall operate as a stay of proceedings and further action relating to the matter.”

Wike, FCDA’s failure to file reply process stalls hearing in Abuja River Park Estate feud