Justice Mohammed Zubairu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Jikwoyi-Kurudu, Abuja, on Monday, adjourned to November 5, the hearing of a suit seeking judicial review of the report and recommendations of the Ministerial Committee on the River Park Estate matter.
The matter was adjourned because counsel to the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and the FCT Minister, 1st and 2nd Respondents respectively, did not file and serve his reply processes on the Applicants.
At a resumed sitting, Anthony Malik (SAN) announced appearance for the applicants, Paulo Homes Nigeria Ltd and House For Africa Nigeria Ltd, although the second firm had in a statement earlier dissociated itself from the suit.
Emma Ukala (SAN), represented the 1st respondent (FCT Minister) and the 2nd respondent (the Federal Capital Development Authority).
Sunday Ameh (SAN) appeared for a Ghanaian businessman, Kojo Mensah, who is the Chief Executive Officer of JonahCapital Nigeria Ltd and the Houses of Africa Nigeria Limited.
The applicants’ counsel informed the court that all processes in respect of the motion on notice had been served on the Respondents, “but till this moment, neither of the respondents has entered a memorandum of appearance, nor has filed any responsive processes to the applicants’ motion on notice.”
Reacting, Ukala told Justice Zubairu that the 1st and 2nd Respondents actually instructed his Chamber last week to represent them on the matter.
“Our processes are ready, and every effort we made this morning to get them filed at the Court’s registry was unsuccessful. They went to file but were told by the court registry that the receipt book had been sent to Maitama for auditing purposes.
“As a result of that, we couldn’t file our reply processes. We have copies of the processes we intend to file, here in court. Even if we had filed today, we are still within time. Therefore, it’s not good to say there’s no defence, Ukala submitted.
He therefore urged the court to discountenance the application by the Malik on behalf of the Applicants for the court to hear the motion for judicial review.
In a short ruling, Justice Zubairu adjourned to November 5, for hearing of the motion.
It had been reported last week that one of the parties in the River Park Estate crisis, the Houses for Africa Nigeria Limited wrote to a senior lawyer, Anthony Malik, SAN, accusing him of filing a suit purporting to represent the firm — which did not originate from them.
It had been earlier been reported that some lawyers were alleged to be impersonating counsels for JonahCapital Nigeria Limited in an attempt to sue the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and overturn the findings of the Ministerial Committee on River Park Estate.
In a formal letter addressed to Chief Malik, Houses for Africa Nigeria Limited unequivocally dissociated itself from the suit, stressing that neither its board nor management authorised the filing.
The letter had warned that such actions constitute criminal impersonation and violate the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners.
The letter also directed Chief Malik to withdraw the suit immediately to prevent what it described as “further desecration of the corporate integrity of Houses for Africa Nigeria Limited.”
It emphasised that any legal steps concerning the estate must originate from the company’s duly authorised representatives and board resolutions — not third parties acting unilaterally.
It was signed by Kojo Ansah Mensah, the MD/CEO of the firm.
The River Park Estate saga is no longer just a property dispute — it has become a test case for legal ethics, judicial integrity, and corporate governance in Nigeria’s capital city.