The Africa Centre for Good Governance and Corruption‑Free Communities has called for an end to litigation and a return to dialogue in a protracted property dispute in Abuja’s Maitama district.
The conflict involves two flats at No. 1 Mekong Close, a case that has been in court for five years. The convener of the civic group, Comrade Temitope Olubunmi Joseph, urged the parties to “sheathe their swords” and seek a negotiated settlement, warning that continued legal battles waste time and resources.
The dispute resurfaced after lawyer Victor Giwa, his client Cecil Osakwe, and police officer Edith Erhunmuuse were charged with the illegal eviction of the flats’ occupants. The accused faced a nine‑count indictment (FCT/HC/CR/222/2023) filed by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, alleging forceful removal of tenants and property damage valued at roughly N300 million.
Justice Samira Bature of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, sitting in Maitama, recently vacated the arrest warrant previously issued against Giwa, a decision the Africa Centre praised as supportive of reconciliation efforts.
In a statement, Joseph said the group had closely followed the case and commended recent attempts to resolve it amicably. “If there are other ways to have issues sorted out, there is no need to waste hard‑earned money on this matter,” he said. He also thanked Senior Advocates Dr Ahmed Raji and Mr Joe Agi for their interventions, noting that the litigation had “spread like wildfire” through the courts.
The centre’s appeal comes as the legal process continues. Giwa, Erhunmuuse and Osakwe remain scheduled for arraignment, and the High Court’s next steps will determine whether the case proceeds to trial or moves toward an out‑of‑court settlement.
The incident highlights the broader challenges of property disputes in Nigeria’s capital, where protracted litigation can impede economic activity and strain community relations. Observers note that the Africa Centre’s call for negotiation reflects a growing trend among civil society groups to promote alternative dispute‑resolution mechanisms in the country’s legal landscape.
