Construction Firm Dares Judiciary, Flouts Court Order

A construction firm, Manillah Integrated Partners Ltd, has taken a dig at Nigeria’s Judiciary by flouting an Abuja High Court Order to stop work at the Apo Resettlement Market Scheme.

Recall that Justice Yusuf Halilu, in a ruling on April 15, 2025, ordered the AMAC Investment and Property Development Company Limited, Commercial Properties Ltd, Manillah Integrated Partners Ltd, and their agents to halt any further works on the market project located at plot 1729 Cadastral Zone E27, Apo, Abuja.

On 28th April 2025, the ‘Stop Work’ Order by the FCT High Court with Suit No. FCT/HC/467/2024, was served and boldly written on the walls, while documents of the Interlocutory Order were also pasted on the property by the court bailiff.

However, in what can be described as a flagrant disregard for the Judiciary, Manillah Integrated Partners Ltd has continued with the construction works on the project despite the Court Order.

Our Correspondent who visited the construction site a few days ago, noticed that the documents of the Interlocutory Injunction which were pasted on the administrative wall of the project by the court bailiff have been removed.

In violation of the Court Order, Manila Integrated Partners Ltd has also cleansed the ‘Stop Work’ order written on the walls of the project, while work on the multi-million naira market project is still ongoing.

It was gathered that the situation took an ugly turn when the party in the matter, Techs & Concretes Nigeria, visited the site on Saturday 3rd May, 2025 to see the level of compliance to the Court Order.

Not only was the construction works ongoing in the site which is an aberration to the Order of an High Court, but they were attacked by the site workers with shovels and other dangerous materials.

Speaking to journalists after the attack, the project manager of Techs & Concretes Nigeria, Ameh Kennedy Gabriel, said it’s clear that a Court Order has been disobeyed and work is still ongoing.

“We have come to see and also to report to my Lord that the order that was given by the court has been disobeyed by Manillah Integrated Partners Ltd, and its agents and workers”, he said.

While emphasising that disobedience to court order attracts sanctions, he called on the Judiciary to take appropriate action against Manillah Integrated Partners Ltd.

“There are laws in Nigeria and these laws must be respected”, he warned.

In Nigeria, disobeying a court order can lead to being found in contempt of court, which carries penalties like imprisonment, fines, or both.

Last week, the residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Nigerians in general were warned against purchasing shops at the Apo Resettlement Scheme Market, due to litigation, which has culminated into a Court Order.

The construction of the market located at Apo Resettlement Centre, behind the FCT High Court, has been a subject of disputes between two real estate developers, Techs & Concretes Nigeria Ltd and Manillah Integrated Partners Ltd.