Justice Mohammed Zubairu of High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, sitting in Jikwoyi-Kurudu, will on Monday, October 6, 2025, hear an application for judicial review of the proceedings, report and recommendations of the Ministerial Committee set up by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on the issues affecting River Park Estate.
Justice Zubairu had on September 17, 2025, fixed October 6, 2025, for hearing of the motion marked M/11417/2025, after hearing a motion ex-parte filed and moved by Anthony Malik, SAN, with Homa Ihunwo and Edward Ajaba, on behalf of the applicants – Paulo Homes Nigeria Ltd and Houses For Africa Nigeria Ltd.
Respondents in the motion are the Minister of the FCT and the Federal Capital Development Authority.
Upon hearing of the motion ex-parte dated and filed 11th September, 2025, Justice Zubairu had granted the application for judicial review by way of certiorari.
“I have carefully read before now both the affidavit in support of the instant application and the further affidavit of the Applicants. I also read through the entire application together with the written submission of the learned counsel.
“I must state that what I have found from all of these is a substantial compliance with the law. The instant application has complied with the rules of this court and ought to be granted and has accordingly been granted as prayed” Justice Zubairu stated.
According to an enroll order of the court sighted by newsmen on Sunday, duly certified by Justice Zubairu, dated September 17, 2025, the court held that “Sequel to the provisions of Order 43 Rule 3(6)(a) of the Rules of this Court 2025, the leave just granted shall operate as a stay of proceedings and further action relating to the matter”.
Attached to the applicants’ motion was an 8-paragraph affidavit sworn by Zainab Suleiman, which had sought “An order granting leave to the Applicants to apply for judicial review by way of certiorari to set aside and /or quash the proceedings, report and recommendations of the Ministerial Committee on the issues affecting River Park Estate, Lugbe Abuja – Plot 4, Cadastral Zone E30 Lugbe Abuja, set up and constituted by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.”
Pursuant to the above and for the purpose of effecting the order thereof, the applicants had prayed for an order of the court compelling the respondents to produce in court the proceedings, report and recommendations of the Ministerial Committee on the issues affecting River Park Estate, which was submitted to the Minister of the FCT on 2nd September, 2025.
In the alternative, the applicants had sought an order of interim injunction restraining the Respondents, either by themselves or through their officers, privies, assigns or any other person(s) taking instructions from them and howsoever called or described, from implementing. enforcing or otherwise giving effect to the report or recommendations of the Ministerial Committee on the issues affecting Riverpark Estate, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.
Also, Paulo Homes Nigeria Ltd and Houses For Africa Nigeria Ltd, has prayed for an order of interim injunction restraining the Respondents, either by themselves or through their officers, privies, assigns or any other person(s) taking instructions from them and howsoever called or described, from enforcing, implementing or otherwise give effect to the report or recommendations of the Ministerial Committee on the issues affecting River Park Estate, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.
Court hears motion for judicial review of Ministerial Committee Report on River Park Estate Oct 6