Barewa Alumni to Appeal judgment on disputed land
The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, has reserved its ruling on an application filed by the Barewa Old Boys Association, seeking to file a cross-appeal in a long-running land dispute involving the association, Haida Properties Limited, and Eagle Aluminium Ltd.
The court, led by Justice Barkaa, heard submissions from the counsel for Barewa Old Boys, AVM Ibrahim Shafi’i (Rtd), as well as the opposing counsel representing Eagle Aluminium Ltd, Esume Felix. Legal representatives for both the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Haida Properties did not raise any objections to the inclusion of Barewa Old Boys in the ongoing appeal.
The origins of the land dispute date back to 1983, when the land was initially allocated to the Barewa Old Boys Association. However, in subsequent years, the ownership and rights to the land became contentious. In 2007, Haida Properties Ltd received a reallocation of the land, and Eagle Aluminium Ltd was granted rights to it in 2009.
The dispute intensified when Haida Properties filed a legal challenge in 2012, seeking to address the withdrawal of its rights to the land. In 2020, Haida Properties won a favorable judgment, affirming its rights to the land. This ruling prompted appeals from both Eagle Aluminium Ltd and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
As the original grantee of the land, the Barewa Old Boys Association has a vested interest in the matter. In its motion, the association sought to join the appeal process, aiming to file a cross-appeal against the judgment in favor of Haida Properties Ltd. The association’s legal team, led by AVM Ibrahim Shafi’i (Rtd), argued that it should be included in the appeal due to its historical rights to the land and the impact the judgment could have on its interests.
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The FCT and Haida Properties did not oppose the inclusion of Barewa Old Boys in the appeal process, paving the way for the court to hear their application.
The Court of Appeal’s decision on whether Barewa Old Boys will be allowed to proceed with their cross-appeal is critical. If granted, the association will be able to challenge the earlier judgment that favored Haida Properties Ltd and potentially alter the outcome of the land dispute.
The land in question has become a subject of intense legal scrutiny, with multiple parties claiming rights to it. The outcome of this appeal could have far-reaching implications for land ownership and legal precedence in Nigeria.
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