A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a long-standing suit filed by the family of late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, challenging the revocation of their father’s property in Maitama District, Abuja.
Justice Peter Lifu dismissed the suit, citing that it had become statute-barred and that the plaintiffs lacked the legal power to initiate the case. The suit was filed nine years ago by Mohammed Sani Abacha and Hajia Maryam Abacha on behalf of the estate of the late military general.
The Abacha family had prayed the court to nullify the revocation of the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of the property, alleging that it was illegally revoked by the defendants in 2006. They claimed that the FCT under Nasir El-Rufai had instructed them to submit the Certificate of Occupancy for re-certification, but it was revoked without reason or adequate compensation.
The defendants, including Salamed Ventures Limited, argued that the suit was frivolous and lacked merit, having been filed outside the three months allowed by law. They also claimed that the Abacha family lacked locus standi to file the case, failing to present letters of administration to the estate as required by law.
Justice Lifu agreed with the defendants, dismissing the suit and ordering the Abacha family to pay Salamed Ventures N500,000 as the cost of litigation.
This marks the fourth time the Abacha family has lost legal battles over the property, having lost twice at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and once at the Court of Appeal in Abuja on grounds of jurisdiction.
