The National Judicial Council (NJC) is being called upon to investigate a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) judge following an order issued to seal a property located in Lagos. This action has raised questions about judicial jurisdiction and proper legal procedure. The controversy stems from a property dispute case that resulted in an FCT High Court judge issuing an order impacting a Lagos-based asset. This development necessitates a closer look at the boundaries of judicial authority and the potential for overreach. Understanding the nuances of such legal interventions is crucial for maintaining public trust in the justice system.
Justice Othman Usman of the FCT High Court issued the sealing order in connection with a property dispute suit numbered FCT/HC/CV/4636/2025, which was brought against the Nigerian Police. A civil society organization, the Africa Centre for Good Governance and Corruption Free Communities, has formally requested the NJC to probe the judge. They allege that the judge exceeded his authority by issuing an order to seal a property situated in Lagos while presiding over a case in Abuja.
Featured snippet paragraph: The primary issue is whether a judge in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has the legal authority to issue an order to seal a property located in Lagos State. Civil society groups are demanding a probe into the judge’s actions, citing concerns about jurisdiction and potential judicial overreach.
The convener of the civil society group, Comrade Temitope Olubunmi Joseph, has publicly called for a thorough investigation into the judge’s conduct and potential sanctions if any wrongdoing is identified. In a statement released on Monday, Joseph emphasized the organization’s interest in the proceedings of Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/4636/2025, a fundamental rights enforcement case filed by Mr. Henry Ugonna Orabuchi against the Nigeria Police Force and others. While acknowledging the sensitivity of matters before the court, the group feels a responsibility to alert judicial leadership to occurrences that may not align with sound judicial practice, especially when the rights of ordinary Nigerians are potentially affected.
According to Joseph, the plaintiff in the case, Mr. Orabuchi, sought to enforce his fundamental rights and obtain a court order to prevent the Nigeria Police from inviting, harassing, or intimidating him concerning a property dispute in Lagos. The disputed property itself is reportedly located at the back of Plot No A Block 12, Lekki Peninsula Scheme, Lagos State. Mr. Orabuchi had approached the FCT High Court with a fundamental rights enforcement suit, aiming to stop police actions against him.
Adding complexity to the situation, Mr. Elvis Emecheta, a Lagos businessman and the owner of the disputed property, reportedly alerted the police to alleged unlawful activities by Mr. Orabuchi, who is accused of resorting to self-help and forcefully occupying the property while causing damage.
Instead of responding to police invitations to present his side of the story, Mr. Orabuchi reportedly sought refuge in the FCT High Court to prevent the police from carrying out their duties. In his suit, Mr. Orabuchi claimed that his fundamental rights, as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, had been violated. He asserted that he had purchased a portion of reclaimed land from Mr. Emecheta, which he claimed was distinct from the area where other business entities operate.
Mr. Orabuchi’s legal team argued that the police invitation infringed upon his fundamental rights and was intended to coerce him into relinquishing his proprietary and contractual rights over the land. His counsel, Chikaosolu Ojukwu, SAN, filed an ex parte application requesting an order to seal the Lagos property.
Justice Othman Musa granted this ex parte order on November 24, 2025, directing the sealing and securing of the entire property, including the reclaimed land. The order also mandated an immediate halt to all construction works and prohibited any person or entity from accessing the property pending the substantive suit’s determination.
However, the situation escalated when, following the ex parte order’s expiration on December 30, 2025, occupants and workers were reportedly forcefully removed from their business premises. The property was then sealed by individuals identifying themselves as FCT High Court officials from Abuja. Business owners reportedly attempted to explain that their premises were separate from the disputed reclaimed land but were allegedly rebuffed and removed without notice.
The civic group maintains that the judge lacked the jurisdiction to issue an order to seal a property in Lagos while sitting in Abuja, asserting that only a Lagos court possesses such authority. They are demanding a probe into Justice Othman Musa’s actions and potential sanctions. The group argues that a judge of the FCT High Court should not issue orders impacting properties outside his territorial jurisdiction.
They further highlighted that the order, issued on November 24, 2025, should have been vacated upon its expiry but was not. The Africa Centre for Good Governance and Corruption Free Communities is urging relevant judicial bodies to address the matter and is prepared to file a formal petition with the NJC if the trend continues, seeking disciplinary action against the judge.
This case underscores the importance of jurisdictional clarity in legal proceedings and the need to uphold established legal protocols to prevent potential abuses of judicial power and protect the rights of all citizens, regardless of their location within the country.
