A civic organisation, the 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 narratives regarding the court order that led to the sealing of a property in Lekki, Lagos State.
The dispute is the subject of a suit marked FCT/HC/CV/4636/2025, instituted at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, between Mr. Orabuchi and the Nigeria Police Force, among others.
In a statement signed by its Convener, Comrade Temitope Olubunmi Joseph, the civic group clarified that the order used to seal the Lekki property was issued by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, not the Federal High Court, Abuja, as allegedly claimed by the plaintiff in public statements.
The group stated that it had earlier called for an investigation into the conduct of the judge who issued the order, alleging judicial overreach.
According to the organisation, a judge sitting in Abuja lacks the jurisdiction to issue an order sealing a property located in Lagos State.
“The case was filed by the plaintiff for the enforcement of his fundamental rights and claims over a property in Lagos,” the statement said.
“All we are saying is that Mr. Orabuchi should stop spreading false narratives. The order was issued by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, which clearly does not have jurisdiction over land situated in Lagos State, and not by the Federal High Court, Abuja.”
The group alleged that in a statement published on 5 January 2026, Mr. Orabuchi wrongly ascribed the FCT High Court order to the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Parts of the January 5 statement reportedly read:
“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.”
Countering this claim, the civic group urged Mr. Orabuchi to desist from distorting the facts of the case, insisting that the High Court of the FCT has no power to issue orders affecting land located outside its territorial jurisdiction.
The group again called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to investigate the circumstances under which the order was made.
“We are calling on Mr. Orabuchi to stop making false claims and misleading the public with inaccurate information,” the statement read.
“Upon verification of the documents, it is clear that it was the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, before Honourable Justice Othman Musa, that issued the ex parte order to seal the property located at the back of Plot No. A, Block 12, Lekki Peninsula Scheme, Lagos State — and not the Federal High Court, Abuja.”
Describing itself as amicus curiae, the group stated that it would not remain silent while facts of the case were allegedly being distorted.
“As a friend of the court, we will not watch while the public is misled. We are closely monitoring this matter and will ensure that justice is served, no matter how long it takes,” the group said.
The organisation further explained that under Nigerian law, jurisdiction in land matters is determined by the location of the land or where the cause of action arose, as provided under the Land Use Act and the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“The High Court of a state — or the FCT High Court for land within the FCT — has exclusive original jurisdiction over land matters within its territorial boundaries,” the statement added.
“The jurisdiction of the FCT High Court is limited to matters arising within Abuja. It lacks competence to adjudicate over land disputes connected to another state, such as Lagos.”
The group stressed that any action concerning land in Lagos must be instituted before the High Court of Lagos State, in the appropriate judicial division where the property is situated.
Reiterating its position, the civic organisation demanded a probe by the NJC into the conduct of the judge involved, insisting that only a Lagos State court has the authority to issue orders affecting property located in Lagos.