Court Issues Summons To Iyabo Obasanjo And Others Over Controversial Land Dispute In Abuja

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered Iyabo Obasanjo, the daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, along with six other individuals, to appear before it on March 6, 2025, regarding their alleged involvement in a disputed land case in Asokoro, Abuja.

The court’s order, issued by Justice Inyang Ekwo, concerns a 1.67-hectare plot of land located at Plot 4254, Cadastral Zone A04, in the upscale Asokoro District.

The individuals summoned include:

• Former Senator for the Federal Capital Territory, Philip Aduda
• Newly elected President of Ohaneze Ndigbo, John Mbata
• Ismail Iro
• Jamaila Sani Alhassan
• Altine Jibrin

Justice Ekwo instructed that the summons be served through substituted means, including publishing them in two national newspapers.

The case, filed by ABB Electrical Systems Limited and Yohana Y.D. Margif, seeks a restraining order to prevent the defendants from trespassing on, modifying, or altering the property. The plaintiffs, represented by counsel Mr. Abniyilo Na’allah, claim legal ownership of the land based on a Statutory Right of Occupancy granted by the Federal Capital Development Administration (FCDA) on May 23, 2006.

The plaintiffs expressed concerns that the defendants were attempting to forcibly take possession of the land, despite the plaintiffs’ quiet and peaceful occupation since its allocation. In an affidavit, Chief Margif, the second plaintiff, warned that allowing the defendants access could lead to irreparable harm.