The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ruled in favour of Ubong Esop Akpan and 2 other plaintiffs regarding the ongoing leadership dispute at the IBB International Golf and Country Club. The Court restrained the purported trustees appointed by Nyesom Wike, the Honourable Minister of the FCT from presiding over the Club’s upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for Saturday April 26, 2025.
The Plaintiffs in the dispute were represented by K.T Turaki, SAN, Y.N Akirikwen, SAN, Abdulaziz Ibrahim, SAN and a team of lawyers. While the Golf Club, its Captain, Secretary and the President of the Court of Appeal were represented by S.I Ameh, SAN, Y.C Maikyau, SAN, Steve Adehi, SAN, O.M Atoyebi, SAN and Dr Agada Elachi, SAN. Chief Joe Kyari Gadzama, SAN sued as the 7th defendant was represented by Chidera Mgbe, Esq and Mark Asu-obi, Esq. The Corporate Affairs Commission and the Hon Minister of FCT were unrepresented.
Based on the argument of K.T Turaki, SAN, the court in its well-considered ruling delivered by Hon. Justice Emeka Nwite on Thursday, April 24, 2025, ordered all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the hearing of the Motion on Notice filed by the Plaintiffs. Crucially, the court held that permitting the purported trustees to preside over the AGM would directly affect the subject matter of the suit which challenges the legality of the trustees’ appointment, and could render the outcome of the suit nugatory.”
The Plaintiffs, Mr. Ubong Esop Akpan, Mr. Tijani Abdulsalam Ogueyi, and Mr. Olalere Babasola, had brought the action to contest what they described as an irregular and illegal appointment of trustees by the Honourable Minister, including the appointment of Hon. Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem as chairperson of the new Trustees.
