A civic organization, Africa Centre for Good Governance and Corruption Free Communities, has backed reconciliation moves initiated by parties engaged in a dispute over a property in the Maitama District of Abuja.
Two flats in the property located at No 1, Mekong Close, have been the subject of litigation that has lasted five years.
Convener of the Africa Centre for Good Governance and Corruption Free Communities, Comrade Temitope Olubunmi Joseph, appealed to parties in the dispute to sheathe their swords and give room for negotiation.
According to him, going into full litigation will not benefit anybody as it will further waste the time and resources of all parties.
A lawyer, Victor Giwa, alongside his client, Cecil Osakwe and an official of the Nigerian Police Force, Edith Erhunmuuse, were accused of illegal ejection of the occupant of the flats.
The group commended Justice Samira Bature of the High Court of Justice of the Federal Capital Territory, who vacated the warrant of arrest issued on Giwa.
According to the group, the decision of the court will further boost the reconciliation moves.
Joseph said, “We have watched with keen interest, proceedings in this matter in the past few years. We commend the efforts of parties to reconcile and have this matter put behind them once and for all.
“If there are other ways to have issues sorted out, there is no need to waste hard earned money on this matter.
“We commend the Learned Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Dr Ahmed Raji, and Mr Joe Agi, for their interventions in this matter which has lingered for many years and spread like wildfire fire in the courts.
“We appreciate you sirs and we do not take your interventions for granted.”
Justice Samira Bature of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting in Maitama, last week issued an arrest warrant against Giwa and a police official, Edith Erhunmuuse.
They were to be arraigned with another defendant, Cecil Osakwe, on a nine-count charge, marked FCT/HC/CR/222/2023, brought against them by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
They were accused of engaging in criminal conduct involving the forceful eviction of occupants and property damage estimated at N300 million.