Property Dispute: After hiring SAN, Asabe Waziri disobeys court order, risks jail

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

A civil servant and staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Ms Asabe Waziri, risks being jailed for disobedience to court order.
She was said to have disobeyed the lawful order of court after she invaded a property located at No 1, Mekong Close, Maitama, Abuja.
In the contempt charge with motion number, FCT/HC/M/11211/2022 and dated March 19, 2024, it was said that unless Asabe Waziri obeys court order, she will be liable to be committed to prison.
Part of the motion reads, “Notice of consequences of disobedience to court order pursuant to sections 72 & 85 of the Shefiffs and civil process act (cap c 38) LFN 2004 and under the inherent jurisdiction of this honourable court. Take notice that unless you have obeyed the direction and orders(s) contained in the order(S) of this Honorable Court delivered on 21st February 2023 attached hereto, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison.”
Justice Mohammed Madugu of the High Court of Justice of the Federal Capital Territory had barred Asabe from interfering, trespassing and disturbing the quiet possession of the applicant, To keep Bariwa, to the property located in Maitama District of Abuja.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Joe Agi, was hired by Asabe to represent her in one of the cases against Abeh Signatures Limited, a property development company and owner of the property.
Even, with the SAN as one of Asabe’s lawyer, in many of the cases in court, she was said to have disobeyed a court order which barred her from going to the property, located at 1, Mekong Close, Maitama District, Abuja.
Despite being aware of the court order barring her from going to do the property, Asabe secured the backing of the police to give them cover to take over the property.
Justice Mohammed Madugu of the High Court of Justice of the Federal Capital Territory had ordered Asabe Waziri not to go near the property pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
Justice Madugu had ordered, “upon reading the Motion on Notice along with the accompanying affidavit of Yinke Bariwa including the written address filed along with the application. And upon hearing A.V GANI (Esq) Counsel for the Claimant/Applicant.
“Court hereby makes the following order(s): leave of the court is granted to the Clamant/Applicant for an interlocutory injunction restraining the 1sy Defendant/Respondent (Asabe Waziri) from interfering. trespassing, disturbing the quiet possession of the Applicants or doing anything adverse to property described as a two (2) bedroom unit, of flat 3B and 3C, Abeh signature Apartments,
1, Mekong Close. Maitama Abuja FCT
, pending the hearing of the substantive suit with Reference No: CV/3261/22”
In 2019, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) searched the Abuja home of Mr Joe Agi, after obtaining a court order.
Operatives of the anti-graft agency quizzed Joe Agi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), over alleged payment of about $30,000 into one of the domiciliary accounts of the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Onnoghen.
Agi was said to be the referee to the CJN when one of the domiciliary accounts was opened.