A legal practitioner, Emaya Alibeku, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the House of Representatives to intervene in the ownership dispute of a property situated in Guzape District of the Federal Capital Territory.
The lawyer urged the President and lawmakers to compel the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to vacate the property situated at Plot 4022 and obey a subsisting order of the Federal High Court.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, Alibeku, counsel to Dr. Rebecca Godwin Omokomo-Isaac, alleged that the anti-graft agency had flagrantly disregarded a court order directing parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/151/2026, insisting that the commission’s continued occupation of the property amounts to a direct assault on the rule of law and the authority of the judiciary.
He argued that the matter is still before the court and has not been finally determined, stressing that no government agency should take steps capable of prejudicing judicial proceedings.
“It is very ironical that a government agency established by law will refuse to obey an order of the court. It is a blatant disregard for the authority of the judiciary and the rule of law,” he said.
Alibeku explained that the dispute dates back to 2022 when his client purchased the property from Richard Idakwagi, Chief Executive Officer of Rychado Homes Limited, after conducting due diligence on the title.
According to him, the property was undeveloped at the time of purchase, prompting his client to clear the land, conduct a survey and eventually construct a residential building.
He said Dr. Omokomo-Isaac moved into the house in 2024 without any challenge to her ownership until a woman identified as Collen Mero Yesufu surfaced and laid claim to the property.
“The whole debacle started after our client had completed the building and moved into the property. There was no contest whatsoever from the time she purchased the land, through construction, until she took possession.
“It was only after she had moved into the property with her family in 2024 that a certain woman, Collen Mero Yesufu, emerged and started laying claims to the property,” he said.
The lawyer disclosed that Yesufu subsequently petitioned both the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), leading to investigations by the two anti-corruption agencies.
According to him, his client fully cooperated with investigators and tendered documents detailing how she acquired the property.
He claimed that after conducting investigations, the ICPC concluded that the person from whom Yesufu claimed to have derived title to the land did not exist.
“ICPC discovered that the property in question does not belong to Collen Mero Yesufu because the person she claimed to have bought it from does not exist.
“The alleged original allottee, Amina Musa Usman, was said to be from Kogi State. However, when investigators visited the community where she was purportedly from, they found no trace of such a person.
“There are only two legitimate ways to acquire title to land. You are either the original allottee or you purchase from the original allottee with the appropriate instruments of transfer. The investigations exposed serious inconsistencies in the rival claim,” he said.
Alibeku alleged that documents relied upon by the rival claimant contained glaring irregularities.
According to him, one of the deeds of assignment was dated 2011 but allegedly signed in 2010.
“That means she signed the document even before it came into existence. That alone raises serious questions.
“Again, instead of obtaining an irrevocable power of attorney from the person she claimed sold the property to her, she obtained one directly from the alleged original allottee whose existence has not been established. Those are major red flags,” he added.
He said despite ICPC’s findings in favour of his client, the EFCC proceeded to institute three criminal cases against Dr. Omokomo-Isaac over the same property.
According to him, two of the cases are before the Federal High Court while another is pending before the FCT High Court.
“All these matters are still pending before competent courts. None has been determined. Yet, while the criminal cases were pending, the EFCC commenced forfeiture proceedings against the property.”
The lawyer maintained that although the commission obtained an interim forfeiture order, his client was never served despite the agency being fully aware that she occupied the property.
“We only became aware of the interim forfeiture proceedings after the order had been obtained. We were never served, despite the fact that the EFCC knew who occupied the property, knew who developed it and knew who was standing trial.
“As soon as we became aware, we immediately filed an objection, an affidavit to show cause and a motion to set aside the interim forfeiture order.”
He said parties subsequently exchanged legal processes and the matter was adjourned until July 21, 2026, for hearing.
However, before the scheduled hearing, Alibeku alleged that EFCC operatives invaded the property on June 29.
“They stormed the property, arrested every member of staff they found on the premises and laid siege to the building.
“Fortunately, our client and her children were not at home when the operation commenced.”
He alleged that a house help remained trapped inside the building, claiming she had stayed there for about 11 days without access to electricity, water and other basic necessities.
“She has remained inside the house without light, without water and without basic amenities because the utilities were disconnected,” he alleged.
Following the development, Alibeku said his legal team approached the Federal High Court and obtained an order directing all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the hearing of the substantive application.
According to him, the order meant that parties should revert to the position that existed before the EFCC entered the property.
“The status quo before the invasion was that our client was in peaceful possession of the property.
“It is therefore wrong for the EFCC to interpret the order as permitting it to remain inside the premises.
“We have tried to appeal to their better sense of judgment, but they have continued to rely on what we consider a complete misinterpretation of the court’s order.”
He said the legal team later returned to court following the EFCC’s refusal to vacate the property.
Although the court adjourned the matter to hear an application for interlocutory injunction, Alibeku maintained that the anti-graft agency ought to have complied with the earlier order.
“Our position remains that they should obey the court order. Judicial processes have not been exhausted.
“A final judgment has not been delivered. The property has not been finally forfeited.
“If they say they are preserving the property, what exactly are they preserving? It is a property built by our client herself.
“They should allow the judicial process to run its full course before laying claim to property that is still the subject of litigation.”
The lawyer appealed directly to President Tinubu, the leadership of the House of Representatives and other relevant authorities to intervene in the matter.
“We appeal to the Presidency and the National Assembly to call the EFCC to order.
“They should direct the commission to withdraw its officers from the property and allow our client to remain in possession until the court determines the matter finally.
“If we claim to operate under constitutional democracy, government institutions must act within the confines of the law.”
Alibeku also disclosed that letters had been written to relevant government offices seeking intervention but said no response had been received.
“We have written to relevant executive offices to make them aware of our plight, but we have not received any response.
“That is why we considered it necessary to bring this matter before the Nigerian public.”
Also speaking, the husband of the property owner, Engineer Isaac Ishaku-Yusuf, described the situation as traumatic for his family, alleging that he had been unable to see his wife since EFCC operatives occupied the property.
“I have not seen my wife for 11 days.
“My wife has been suffering. It has been a very painful and traumatic experience for our family.
“Our children witnessed what happened that day and have continued asking after their mother every day.I keep telling them she is fine, even though the situation has been very difficult.”
