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Rule of Law on Trial in Apo Resettlement Market Dispute as Investors Face Growing Risk

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3 months ago

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What began as a commercial disagreement over the Apo Resettlement Scheme Market in Abuja is fast becoming a defining moment for the enforcement of judicial authority and the protection of property investors in Nigeria.

At the center of the controversy is the alleged refusal by Manillah Integrated Partners Ltd and AMAC Investment Development Company to comply with a subsisting court order halting construction on the disputed project – an action that raises urgent questions about respect for the rule of law and the safety of public investment.

The dispute traces back to a suit before the FCT High Court, where Justice Yusuf Halilu granted an interlocutory injunction on April 15, 2025, directing all parties involved in the project to cease further work pending the determination of the substantive matter.

The order was not only issued but duly served and visibly enforced at the site, with court bailiffs pasting the directive and marking the premises with a “Stop Work” notice on 28th April 2025. For many observers, that should have marked a pause in all activities and a deference to the judicial process.

Yet, developments on the ground appear to tell a different story. Reports indicate that construction activities have continued despite the court’s directive, with claims that the posted injunction notices were removed and the “Stop Work” inscription erased.

When a team of journalists, in the company of some security personnel, visited the site on 12th May, 2025, it was noticed that not only the construction works on the multi-million naira market project is still ongoing, the documents of the Interlocutory Injunction which were pasted on the administrative wall of the project by the court bailiff have been removed and the “stop work” order written on the walls cleansed.

On 3rd May 2025, a party in the matter, Dr Shuaibu Musari, visited the site to see the level of compliance to the Court Order, but was attacked by the site workers with shovels and other dangerous materials.

If accurate, such actions go beyond mere oversight; they point to a deliberate defiance of judicial authority.

In a country where the courts are constitutionally empowered to interpret and enforce the law, such conduct is not only provocative but also potentially punishable.

Under Nigerian law, disobedience of a court order constitutes contempt of court, an offence that strikes at the heart of the justice system.

The implications for a party found guilty can be severe, ranging from fines to imprisonment, and in some cases, legal setbacks that could influence the outcome of the substantive case itself.

The courts have consistently maintained that their authority must not be undermined, and any proven act of defiance is often met with firm sanctions intended to preserve institutional integrity.

Beyond the courtroom, however, lies a more immediate and human concern – the risk faced by unsuspecting Nigerians who may be investing in the project.

Despite the ongoing litigation and the court’s directive, there are claims that shops within the Apo market are being marketed and sold. This places potential buyers in a precarious position, as any transaction conducted while the property is under judicial dispute may ultimately prove invalid or unenforceable.

Should the court rule against the party undertaking the sales, those who have paid for shops could find themselves entangled in protracted legal battles or, worse, stripped of their investments entirely.

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This uncertainty is compounded by the legal doctrine that discourages transactions on properties under litigation, effectively placing a cloud over any such deals. In practical terms, it means that buyers are not just purchasing physical spaces but also inheriting the legal risks attached to them. In a volatile property market, that is a gamble few can afford.
The situation has also taken a troubling turn with reports of violence at the construction site. An alleged attack on representatives of the opposing developer underscores the tension surrounding the project and raises concerns about public safety.

When disputes of this nature escalate beyond legal arguments into physical confrontations, it signals a breakdown in orderly conflict resolution and heightens the urgency for intervention.
For regulators and enforcement agencies, the unfolding events present a critical test. The apparent continuation of work in defiance of a court order suggests gaps not only in compliance but also in enforcement.

It raises the question of whether existing mechanisms are sufficient to ensure that judicial decisions are respected on the ground. The responsibility extends beyond the courts to include administrative authorities and law enforcement bodies tasked with maintaining order and protecting citizens.

Ultimately, the Apo market dispute is shaping up to be more than a disagreement between two developers. It is a reflection of broader systemic issues – how effectively court orders are enforced, how well investors are protected from high-risk ventures, and how seriously the rule of law is taken in practice.

The outcome of this case, and the actions taken in response to the alleged defiance by Manillah Integrated Partners Ltd and AMAC Investment Development Company will likely send a strong signal to both the real estate sector and the wider public.

For now, caution remains the most prudent course for prospective buyers. Until the court reaches a final determination, the project remains legally uncertain, and any financial commitment carries inherent risk. As the judiciary weighs its next steps, the expectation is clear: that the authority of the court will be upheld and that no individual or entity will be allowed to operate above the law.

However, at the resumed hearing, on Thursday April 23, 2026, at the Maitama High Court, Justice Yusuf Halilu, adjourned further hearing of the matter to May 7, 2026, to enable the second claimant AMAC Investment Development Company, serve the defendant, Dr Shuaibu Musari a subpoena.

Counsel to the second claimant Idris Abubakar SAN, has earlier presented a witness, Hassan Ahmed Omale, a legal practitioner, who allegedly prepared a Joint Venture Agreement between Dr Shuaibu Musari and Manillah Integrated Partners Ltd, who is also a third claimant in the case.

Also, Counsel to the first claimant, Dr Shuaibu Musari, Realwan Okpanachi, who was represented by Barr. Godwin, sought the approval of the court to serve an order of contempt – Form 48 and 49, to the second and third claimants (Manillah Integrated Partners Ltd and AMAC Investment Development Company), through substituted means (WhatsApp etc), adding that he has been unable to serve them.

While the presiding Judge, Justice Yusuf Halilu, approved that they be served through substituted service, the Counsel to the second claimant, Idris Abubakar, SAN, however received the form 48 and 49 on behalf of the second and third claimants.

What this implies is that Dr Shuaibu Musari has initiated a contempt of court proceedings against Manillah Integrated Partners Ltd and AMAC Investment Development Company for disobeying court order.

Forms 48 and 49 are legal documents used in Nigerian civil procedure to initiate contempt of court proceedings, specifically when a party disobeys a court order. The penalty for disobeying court orders can lead to imprisonment of the contemnor.

Manillah Integrated Partners Ltd was noticeably absent at the resumed hearing.

The first claimant, Dr Shuaibu Musari is seeking a service of an order mandating the second and third claimants to pay N850 million fine for allegedly disregarding the April 2025, interlocutory injunction issued by the court, pending the final determination of the substantive matter.

Will Manillah Integrated Partners Ltd and AMAC Investment Development Company gets away with this contemptuous disregard for the court order? This is up to Justice Yusuf Halilu and the Nigeria Judiciary to determine.

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85 Religious Leaders Graduate from JNI-Alkalanci Fact-Checking Training in Gombe

Published

6 hours ago

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July 26, 2026

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The Jama’atul Nasrul Islam (JNI), Gombe State chapter, in collaboration with Alkalanci, has trained 85 Islamic clerics, Imams and Tsangaya teachers drawn from across all local government areas of the state on fact-checking, media and information literacy, as part of efforts to curb the spread of Misinformation/disinformation ahead of the 2027 general election.

The two-day step-down training, which held in Gombe, brought together religious leaders who serve as trusted voices in their communities, with organisers stressing their unique position to either check or amplify the spread of false information.

This is one of the impact of the fact-checking and media literacy training done by Alkalanci in April 2026 in Gombe, where some JNI members were in attendance.

Speaking at the event, the Secretary General of JNI, Prof. Khalid Aliyu, represented by Ustaz Yusuf Sa’id, underscored the critical role religious leaders play in combating disinformation, particularly as the country approaches the 2027 election.

He admitted that politicians often exploit clerics and religious platforms to spread disinformation for political gain, warning that such practices could deepen social division and mislead the public if left unchecked. He urged the participants to be more discerning and to use the knowledge gained from the training to protect their congregations from manipulation.

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Also speaking, the Sarkin Bai of Gombe, Amb. Yerima Abdullahi, urged religious leaders to be cautious in their sermons and public engagements, warning against the inclusion of unverified propaganda or false narratives in their preaching.

He emphasized the importance of training religious leaders in fact-checking and media and information literacy, noting that as custodians of public trust, clerics and imams have a responsibility to verify information before disseminating it to their followers.

In his remarks, the Editor of Alkalanci, Alhassan Bala, commended the Gombe chapter of JNI for partnering with Alkalanci to organise the step-down training, describing it as part of broader efforts to combat misinformation and disinformation.

“Gombe was one of the states we conducted training this year, and I am happy to say you are now the first to hold step-down training this is another impact of what we have been doing.”

He noted that some individuals, both within and outside the country, deliberately create false information and use emotional appeals to manipulate religious leaders and their followers into believing and spreading such content.

The training, which concluded on Sunday, featured sessions on identifying fake news, verifying sources, and understanding the dangers of unchecked information sharing, especially in the lead-up to elections.

At the end of the programme, participants pledged to disseminate the knowledge acquired to their various communities and to cautioned the public to always verify information before sharing, noting that this is in line with Islamic teachings on truthfulness and the avoidance of falsehood.

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From the struggle for Gombe State to life in the Senate: Senator Umar Usman Dukku reflects on politics, democracy, and his relationship with the late General Sani Abacha.

Published

7 hours ago

on

July 26, 2026

By

Senator Umar Usman Dukku

 

Senator Umar Usman Dukku was a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from 1999 to 2003 where he represented Gombe North senatorial district in this interview with NIGERIAN TRACKER at his residence in Bauchi the senator says alot about his experience in the Senate ,his relationship with Late Head of state General Sani Abacha,the creation of Gombe state 30 years ago on 1st October 1996 among others

Abbas Yushau Yusuf ,Umar Farook Maigari and Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Excerpts

 

NT: Assalamualaikum ! You’re welcome to an interview by one of the best online newspapers in Nigeria, Nigeria Tracker. My name is Abbas Yushau Yusuf, the Editor, and here’s my colleague, Farouq Maimagari, who is one of the members of the editorial board of the paper. Baba you have served in the Senate between 1999-2003. What was your journey? How did you enter the Senate?

Senator Umar Usman Dukku : I entered the Senate through election. I was the only PDP Senator from my area. Others who entered are in ANPP, the governor too was in ANPP. I was the only senator from PDP, and the only member of PDP.

NT: Before the transition in 1999, what motivated you to contest the 1999 election under the platform of PDP?

Senator Dukku : Well, this is a very good question. What motivated me was to serve people. I want to serve my people. I want to work for my people. I don’t want to just go away.

NT: By then, most of the parties that dominated states like Gombe, Borno, Bauchi are the APP, how did you bulldoze your way into becoming a lone PDP Senator from Gombe State?

Senator Dukku: Well, it is something very simple. It was not by my own decision but God’s decision that I will become a Senator and that I will win the election no matter who are contesting, or who are against me. I was sure that if God permit I will win. I have confidence in myself and then confidence in my people who are following me.

NT: By then when you were sworn in, I think in June 4 , 1999, after the inauguration of Mr. President on May 29, so the Senate and the House were inaugurated and we have the first Senate president, how did you face the work of the Senate?

Senator Dukku: This is a very important question. Unless you don’t know what a Senate is, and unless you don’t know what you are, unless you don’t know what you want to do for your people, then there will be nothing you can do. But if you know what you are, you know what you want to do for your people, you know how to do it, and you have experienced in service (that will count, it will suddenly count). If you never work in a government or you have no experience in any federal government organization, or any company, or anywhere, then you will find yourself in a difficult situation.

NT: When you enter the Senate and started the legislative business, you have your first Senate president as Senator Evans Ewarey. By then Nigerians were keen to know how you were able to manage the senate with him.

Senator Dukku: Yes, we work with him, he’s a very humble person, very honourable,

NT: As first timers, what are some of the challenges that you faced since Nigeria return to democracy after almost 15 years of military rule?

Senator Dukku: Well, you will find there’s a missing like democracy, everything was military, military, and even the governors elected, everybody thinks they will work like a military also. But gradually, we were able to bulldoze ourselves, the national assembly in particular, in the senate we were able to bulldoze ourselves and then show people that there’s another system which is called democracy, then we achieve that.

NT: Did you chair any committee when you were in the senate?

Senator Dukku: In the senate, yes I chaired one committee but I have forgotten the committee ethics and privileges committee

 

 

NT: What was the work of the committee?

Senator Dukku : A lot of it. Most especially how to deal with members of the national assembly at that time, how to work with them, how to see that everybody there is innocent, honest, and working for his people…

NT: So, by then you were opposition in your state, but in the ruling party of the federal government, how were you able to relate with your governor?

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Senator Dukku : My governor was late Abubakar Habu Hashidu we worked with him with peace and harmony. He used to come from Gombe to my house in Abuja if he has a program, and I used to go to him if there’s a program, and then if there’s a problem in finance, about a program that need to be carried out, I used to help him making some money available in the federal government budget like. I make sure that the money is released to him direct. Like Airport in Gombe, after federal government approved to build an airport, send him the money to go and carry out the job because it was a state affair at that time.

NT: So how will you compare the operation of your own senate in 1999-2003 and the current senate?

Senator Dukku : To be honest with you, to be sincere, I don’t know. I don’t involve myself in local politics or any politics. The only thing I know is

NT: So, let’s come back to the rise and creation of Gombe State. Gombe State was created by General Sani Abacha (the Interviewee interjected by saying sure)on 1 October 1996. Even before Abacha created the state, is there agitation for the creation of that state even before Abacha became the head of the state?

Senator Dukku: There were agitations before the creation of northeast, northwest regions.

NT: There were agitations for the creation of Gombe?

Dukku: There were agitations for the creation of Gombe.

NT: Which means it started since 60’s.

Senator Dukku: Yes, and then the first person to start it was the former comptroller general of NTA Kaduna. He was our leader at that time. And then afterwards, Usman Farooq took over. Former governor of Northwestern state after finishing his tenure. He took over the leadership of the team and after that, when we decide to appoint committees, we appointed Yerima Abdullahi, Sarkin Yakin of Gombe to be our Chairman.

NT: Can you remember exactly the year you started to bring the idea of Gombe State Creation?

Dukku : I can’t.

NT: Was it during Gowon or Obasanjo?

Senator Dukku: Well, Gowon first of all inaugurated the headquarters of northeast in Bauchi, old airport. After sometimes, he changed the idea. He took the northeast headquarters to Maiduguri. Then this make people to think about it to agitate for state creation of Bauchi. And we said okay if it’s the creation then it should be in Gombe. After going up and down, everything was settled. Later, we started looking for a state again. Because we were seeing other places were being given states, and we too deserve to have a state.

NT: So it means you started agitating since Murtala, Obasanjo…

Senator Dukku: We started agitating for long.

NT: Ok. So , Babangida created states between 1987 and 1991, have you tabled the idea of creation of Gombe State?

Senator Dukku: We did.

NT: But you were not given.

Senator Dukku : We were not given!

NT: How were you able to win during Abacha?

The Interviewe: Me personally, I know Abacha since 1961

NT: You know Abacha?

Senator Dukku: Yes, I know Abacha. He was in Tiv area, fighting with Tiv people, and others. We have been together with Abacha. Infact we were with him up till the time he became head of state. He would come to Bauchi, and I will go to the border as the permanent secretary local government with others to receive him.

NT: So you were very close to Abacha.

Senator Dukku: Very close, to be honest.

NT: So he confirmed to you that you are going to have Gombe State?

Senator Dukku: The confirmation was from his mouth, when he announced it.

NT: But what I am trying to take you back is you agitated for the creation of Gombe State for long time. Murtala created 8 states, then when Babangida came he created two, then nine but Gombe was not… So I said how were you able to succeed during Abacha?

Senator Dukku: We campaigned. We have committees, one under the chairmanship of the Emir of Gombe, the other one under the chairmanship of Yerima Abdullahi

NT: So, before Abacha announced it, did you have any leakage that he was going to…

Dukku: No, I didn’t.

NT: You were just taken by surprise like everyone

Senator Dukku: Yes. Even I was in my farm here in Bauchi, when they were announcing the state creation. And then somebody ran to me and said we have been given Gombe State (in Hausa). I asked him where he heard it from, and he said on Radio. The I said that’s good.

NT: This was how you heard it?

Dukku: That was how I heard it. Then I decided to come back to my house here, changed from my farm dress and then go to Gombe to meet my people.

NT: You made a serious and interesting revelation about your relationship with general Sani Abacha. How were you able to relate with him? His character….

Senator Dukku: He was very good, an excellent person. A very excellent soul. Very sincere and honest.

NT: So, when he(Abacha) used to come to Gombe for weekend, how many days do you remember he used to spend?

Senator Dukku: He used to spend one month. He would come for his annual leave. And then go to Lagos. Since he was a Major.

NT: That was when you know him?

Senator : Yes, since he was a Major.

NT:, thank you very much

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Major Hamza Al-Mustapha: “Abacha Did Not Die on Top of a Woman; I Have CCTV Footage

Published

12 hours ago

on

July 26, 2026

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Former Chief Security Officer to late Head of State General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha has dismissed claims that Abacha died on top of a woman, saying he has all CCTV footages of Abacha’s final moments in his custody.

Al-Mustapha was reacting to claims made by former Department of State Services operative, Dennis Amachree in his book that Abacha died on top of a woman.

Speaking with journalists in Kaduna, Al-Mustapha described Amachree’s account as false, misleading and fabrications, alleging the author was influenced by others to write lies.

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“The boy was asked to write the lies by others. I have all the CCTV footages of what happened in my custody, so what he said are not true,” Al-Mustapha said.

He insisted the publication does not reflect what transpired and urged public to disregard claims, saying it is wrong to make false statements against someone who is no longer alive to defend himself.

“Just ignore his lies. It’s bad to say such things on someone that is dead,” he said.

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