Kogiflame
High Court of the Federal Capital Territory High Court (FCT), sitting at Bwari, Abuja, has issued an interim injunction ordering the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the State Security Service (SSS), and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to arrest, detain, and prosecute anyone who attempts to sell the properties of a former President of the Abuja Customary Court of Appeal, late Justice Moses Bello.
The order, according to the judge, Justice M. A. Madugu shall subsist pending the hearing of the substantive case, marked FCT/HC/CV/667/2023 before the court.
Justice Madugu gave the order while ruling in an ex-parte motion, marked FCT/HC/M/12904/2024, filed by the late Justice Bello’s daughter, Ann Eniyamire Bello, through her counsel, Yahuza Maharaz.
Respondents in the application are Reverend Father Ezekiel Awolumate and Christ the King Catholic Church in Okene, Kogi State.
The judge further restrained the defendants or any of their agents from selling, leasing, or mortgaging the property at Plot 763, Cadastral Zone A6 (No 41, Panama Street) Maitama, Abuja, and any other properties in dispute pending the determination of the matter.
A certified true copy (CTC) of the court order sighted by Tribune Online read in part: “An interim injunction of this honourable court is granted restraining the defendants, their agents, representatives, cohorts, loyalists, whatsoever and/or howsoever described, and/or any beneficiary of the estates of Justice Moses Abu Bello or other person occupying, staying and/or squatting at the property at plot no: 763, Cadastral Zone A6 (no 41, Panama Street) Maitama Abuja with C-of-O No:164 EW-FE 243-59 DDR 6018U-10 of file No: KG 10050 or elsewhere, from making any attempt of selling, leasing, mortgaging whatsoever property which is subject of dispute herein in this suit, wholly or any part thereof, pending the hearing of the substantive suit, the said property being a subject of litigation before this honourable court.
“An order of this honourable court is granted directing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the State Security Service, and the Nigeria Police Force to apprehend, arrest, detain, and prosecute anyone attempting to sell, mortgage, or lease the property.
“An order of this honourable court is granted 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.
“An order of this honourable court is granted to the applicant to publish on all media houses/national daily newspapers of its own choice, pending the hearing of the substantive suit, a copy of the order of this honourable court made in this application.”
The court also directed parties in the suit to maintain the status quo/state of affairs as of the first day the suit was filed pending hearing.
The judge then adjourned hearing of the substantive suit to October 28.
The late Justice Bello’s daughter, Ann, had approached the court, instituting the suit against the defendants, alleging, among others, that she was shortchanged in the execution of her father’s will.
According to her, Kate Justice Bello’s will specified that his assets be divided among his wife and eight children using an 11.11 per cent sharing formula.
She went further to claim that the first defendant, Reverend Father Awolumate, altered the sharing formula to 4.16 percent, contrary to the deceased’s instructions.
The applicant, therefore, urged the court to annul the defendants’ decision and to relieve them of their duties as executors of her father’s will.
She, in addition, sought a declaration of the court that she is entitled to 11.11 per cent of all her father’s assets, including shares and stocks.
