Nigerian Court Issues Injunction to Protect Late Justice’s Properties

In a significant ruling, a Nigerian court has issued an interim injunction to prevent the unauthorized sale of properties belonging to the late President of the Abuja Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Moses Bello. The properties in question are currently at the center of a dispute between the Christ the King Catholic Church in Okene, Kogi State, and the late justice’s daughter, Ann Eniyamire.

According to reports, Eniyamire claims that the church and its parish priest, Reverend Father Ezekiel Awolumate, have attempted to sell the properties without her consent or proper authorization. She alleges that her father’s will specified that his assets be divided among his wife and eight children using an 11.11 per cent sharing formula. However, Eniyamire claims that Awolumate altered the formula to 4.16 per cent, contrary to her father’s instructions.

The court’s ruling, delivered by Justice Mohammed Madugu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Bwari, Abuja, has restrained the defendants from selling, leasing, or mortgaging the properties pending the hearing of the substantive suit. The court also ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the State Security Service, and the Nigeria Police Force to apprehend and prosecute anyone attempting to sell or mortgage the properties.

Furthermore, the court granted Eniyamire permission to mark the properties with red paint and display a sign reading “NOT FOR SALE / Lis Pendens” pending the outcome of the case. The court also instructed the defendants to maintain the status quo as of the date the substantive suit was filed and warned against tampering with the property markings or removing the court orders.

Eniyamire’s counsel, Yahuza Maharaz, filed the suit on her behalf, seeking to annul the defendants’ decision and relieve them of their duties as executors of her father’s will. She is also seeking a court declaration that she is entitled to 11.11 per cent of all her father’s assets, including shares and stocks.

The case has sparked interest in the Nigerian legal community, with many following the developments closely. The court’s ruling has been seen as a significant step in protecting the rights of beneficiaries and upholding the integrity of wills and estates.

The substantive suit is expected to be heard in the coming weeks, and the outcome will likely have far-reaching implications for the parties involved. For now, the interim injunction remains in place, ensuring that the properties remain under the court’s protection until the matter is resolved.