A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Bwari has issued an interim order preventing the planned sale of an Abuja property belonging to a former President of the Customary Court of Appeal of the FCT, Justice Moses Abu Bello.
In a ruling, Justice Mohammed Madugu also ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Director General of the State Security Service (SSS) and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to arrest, detain and prosecute anyone who attempts to sell, mortgage or lease the property at plot no: 763, Cadastral Zone A6 (no 41, Panama Street) Maitama, Abuja any other property owned by the late jurist.
The ruling was on an ex-parte motion marked FCT/HC/M/12904/2024, filed along with a substantive suit by one of the deceased’s children, Ann Eniyamire Bello.
Listed as defendants in the suit, marked: FCT/HC/CV/667/2023 are Rev. Father Ezekiel John Awolumate and the Christmas the King Catholic Church, Omene Parish.
An enrolled copy of the ruling revealed that the Justice Madugu also l restrained the defendants or any of their agents from selling, leasing or mortgaging the property at plot no: 763, Cadastral Zone A6 (no 41, Panama Street) Maitama, Abuja any other properties in dispute pending the determination of the matter.
Other reliefs granted by the court include an order granting the applicant permission to mark the property with red paint and display a sign that reads ‘Not for sale/ lis pendens’ on the property, pending the outcome of the case.
The judge equally ordered the applicant to paste copies of the enrolled order on the main entrance and walls of the property and to publish the order in national newspapers.
Justice Madugu also instructed that all parties in the suit must maintain the status quo as of the date the substantive suit was filed, pending its resolution. He warned the defendants and their agents against tampering with the property markings or removing the court orders on the wall or entrance gate of the property, stating that any such actions would be considered contempt of court.
The court emphasised that any steps taken in violation of its orders would lead to contempt charges, and the defendants were reminded to fully comply with the orders pending the hearing of the substantive suit.
The plaintiff filed the suit, claiming she was shortchanged in the execution of her father’s will, which specified that his assets be divided among his wife and eight children using an 11.11 percent sharing formula.
Eniyamire claimed that Awolumate, the first defendant, allegedly altered the formula to 4.16 percent, contrary to her father’s instructions.
The plaintiff is praying the court to, among others, void the defendants’ decision and to relieve them of their duties as executors of her father’s will.
She also wants the court to declare that she is entitled to 11.11 percent of all her father’s assets, including shares and stocks.
Further hearing in the case comes up on October 28.
Culled The nation