An High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has granted an order directing that notices of committal proceedings be served on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, by substituted means following a demolition exercise allegedly carried out in violation of a subsisting court order.
Justice Hamza Muazu issued the order after counsel to the claimant, Mykas Grid Ventures Limited, moved an ex parte motion seeking leave to serve Forms 48 and 49 on the minister through newspaper publications. The court granted permission for the notices to be advertised in two newspapers circulating within the Federal Capital Territory and deemed such publication as proper service.
The court also allowed the writ of summons and other processes in the suit to be served on the second defendant through publication in two national newspapers circulating in Lagos and Abuja.
Form 48, titled Notice of Consequences of Disobence to Order of Court, warned that failure to comply with the earlier directive to maintain status quo could result in contempt proceedings and possible committal to a correctional centre.
The dispute stems from a suit filed by Mykas Grid Ventures Limited against the FCT Minister and Italia Company Limited over Plot No A06 4583 in Maitama District Abuja. The claimant had sought an interim injunction restraining the defendants from taking possession of the property pending determination of a motion on notice.
On February 10, Justice Muazu ordered all parties to maintain the status quo. However, officials of the Federal Capital Development Authority Development Control Department, reportedly acting on the minister directive, allegedly demolished structures on the property despite the court order.
The matter has been adjourned until March 9 for hearing.
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