Group Accuses Plaintiff Of Mischief In Disputed Lagos Property

A civil society group, Africa Centre for Good Governance and Corruption Free Communities has accused the plaintiff in a Lagos property dispute, Mr Henry Ugonna Orabuchi, of spreading false narrative in the case.

The group, in a press statement signed by its convener, Comrade Temitope Joseph, said for the avoidance of doubt, the Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/4636/2025 and the parties in the case are Henry Ugonna Orabuchi Vs Nigeria Police Force and Others.

“The case was filed by the plaintiff for the enforcement of his Fundamental Rights and claims over property in Lagos.

“All we are saying is that Mr Orabuchi should stop spreading false narrating. The order was issued by a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, which clearly, does not have jurisdiction and not the Federal High Court, Abuja”, Joseph said.

In a press statement said to have been issued by Mr Orabuchi, specifically, published by Linda Ikeji Blog, on January 5, 2026, Mr Orabuchi ascribed the FCT High Court order to Federal High Court, Abuja.

He said in the press statement on Linda Ikeji Blog, “Ironically, Mr. Emecheta now raises jurisdictional arguments, forgetting that he was the first to approach Abuja, while Mr. Orabuchi only sought the protection of the Federal High Court Abuja after persistent harassment and threats, despite clear IGP directives.”

The group, in reacting to the false narrative, called on Mr Orabuchi to desist from distorting facts of the case, insisting that the High Court of the FCT has no powers to make such order over a land situated in Lagos.

The group once again, called on the National Judicial Council, NJC, to probe the order of the court, insisting that the FCT High Court has no such power to make the order.

“We are calling on Mr Orabuchi to stop making false claim and stop misleading the public with false information. Check your records well, in case you fail to look at the documents in your possession before coming to the public with misleading information, it was the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, before Justice Othman Musa, that made the order to seal the property located at the back of Plot No A Block 12, Lekki Peninsula Scheme, Lagos State, and not Federal High Court, Abuja.

“As a friend of the court, we will not watch while you distort the facts of the case and mislead the public with false narrative. We are watching with very keen interest and we shall ensure that justice is served in this matter, no matter how long it takes.

“The FCT High Court does not have jurisdiction over a land matter involving property located in Lagos State. In Nigeria, the jurisdiction for land disputes is primarily determined by the physical location of the land or where the cause of action arose. The High Court of a state (or the FCT High Court for land in the FCT) has exclusive original jurisdiction to hear and determine disputes related to land within its own specific territorial boundaries, as provided by the Land Use Act and the Constitution. The FCT High Court’s jurisdiction is generally limited to matters and properties within the geographical area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. It lacks the competence to adjudicate over matters arising from or connected to another state, such as Lagos. Therefore, any lawsuit concerning land in Lagos must be instituted in the High Court of Lagos State, specifically within the appropriate judicial division where the property is situated.

“Once again, we are calling on the NJC and insisting that a probe should be launched into the order of the court. We simply cannot cease to wonder why a state high court will issue an Exparte order over a land matter in another state because obviously, the FCT High Court is equivalent to a state high court”, the group said.

Last week, the group called for probe into the order of the court.

The group, in a statement wondered why the judge overreached his bounds by issuing an order to seal up a property in Lagos, while sitting as a judge in Abuja.

Convener of the group, Comrade Joseph, called for thorough probe and possible sanction, if found wanting and said it had watched with keen interest, proceedings in a property dispute located in Lagos State before the FCT high court.