Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Monday, directed parties in alleged contract breach brought against federal ministry of interior to maintain the status quo pending the hearing of the substantive suit.
The Ministry and two others were dragged to court over the alleged wrongful termination of the contract for the management and maintenance of the e-Citibiz platform, an automation system for processing expatriate quotas, business permits, citizenship administration, and marriage registration.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/770/2025, lists the Federal Ministry of Interior, the Attorney General of the Federation, and the Federal Republic of Nigeria as first to third defendants.
The Claimant is seeking several declarations and reliefs, including a pronouncement that the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement signed with the Ministry remains valid and binding.
At Monday’s proceedings, counsel to plaintiff, A.O. Amagwula, and defense counsel representing the defendants, Abiola Olawola, appeared before the court.
Olawola informed the court that the defendants had been served with the plaintiff’s counter-affidavit and were still within the statutory time to respond.
He, therefore, requested an adjournment to enable the defense file its processes.
Amagwula did not oppose the application but urged the court to direct parties to maintain the status quo to prevent actions that might undermine the subject of the litigation.
Justice Nwite, in a short ruling, emphasized that justice demands that no party should take steps capable of affecting the subject matter of a suit already before the court.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to June 3, 2025, for hearing.
