The Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Jikwoyi-Kurudu will, on Monday, October 6, hear an application for judicial review of the proceedings, report, and recommendations of the Ministerial Committee set up by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on issues affecting the River Park Estate dispute.
Justice Mohammed Zubairu had, on September 17, 2025, fixed October 6 for the hearing of the motion after considering an ex parte application filed and moved by Anthony Malik (SAN), alongside Homa Ihunwo and Edward Ajaba, on behalf of the applicants — Paulo Homes Nigeria Ltd and Houses for Africa Nigeria Ltd.
Respondents in the motion, marked M/11417/2025, are the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and the Federal Capital Development Authority.
Upon hearing the ex parte motion dated and 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 examined the entire application together with the written submissions of 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 and ought to be granted. It is accordingly granted as prayed,” Zubairu stated.
According to an enrolled order of the court certified by Justice Zubairu on 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.”
Attached to the applicants’ motion was an eight-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Zainab Suleiman, which sought “an order granting leave to the applicants to apply for judicial review by way of certiorari to set aside and/or quash the proceedings, report, and recommendations of the Ministerial Committee on issues affecting River Park Estate, Lugbe, Abuja — Plot 4, Cadastral Zone E30, Lugbe, Abuja — set up and constituted by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.”
Pursuant to the above, and for the purpose of effectuating the order thereof, the applicants prayed for an order compelling the respondents to produce in court the proceedings, report, and recommendations of the Ministerial Committee on issues affecting River Park Estate, which were submitted to the Minister of the FCT on September 2, 2025.
In the alternative, the applicants sought an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents, either by themselves or through their officers, privies, assigns, or any other person(s) acting on their instructions, from implementing, enforcing, or otherwise giving effect to the report or recommendations of the Ministerial Committee on issues affecting River Park Estate, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.
Paulo Homes Nigeria Ltd and Houses for Africa Nigeria Ltd also prayed for an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents, their officers, privies, assigns, or agents, from enforcing, implementing, or otherwise giving effect to the report or recommendations of the Ministerial Committee on issues affecting River Park Estate, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.
