Army Asks Court To Dismiss Suit On Disputed Abuja Property

The Nigerian Army has described as an abuse of court process a suit filed by a professor, John Ntui Ntuiabane, to challenge a disputed property in the Apo District of Abuja.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/C’S/2635/2025, the professor seeks an interpretation of the right of citizens to own property in Nigeria, among other matters.

According to the court process, the suit also seeks to preserve the right of a deceased retired Major, who was originally allocated the disputed property in Apo, which is now occupied by the retired Naval chief.

The property has been the subject of controversy, with Lt. Ahmed Yerima, a young Naval officer, having an altercation with the minister of FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike.

In the preliminary objection against the suit dated 24th March. 2026, filed by human rights lawyer, Victor Giwa, the Army prayed the court to dismiss the suit.

It also asked the court to dismiss the suit on the ground that it is incompetent.

The lawyer further challenged the court’s jurisdiction to hear the suit.

“The suit is grossly incompetent, having been filed via originating process, highly speculative and hypothetical and academic in nature,” Giwa stated in the objection.

He argued that the claimant was struggling to seek a judicial decision on an academic question and urged the Federal High Court to strike it out and assign it as a classroom handbook.

Listed as defendants by the plaintiff are the minister of Defence, minister of State for Defence, Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Naval Staff.

Others are Vice Admiral Zubairu Gambo, Lt Ahmed Yerima and the attorney-general of the federation.