Court orders parties to maintain Status Quo on River Park Estate

Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court has ordered all parties involved in the River Park Estate ownership tussle to maintain the status quo until the substantive suit is determined.

The directive followed an application by JonahCapital Nigeria Limited, the claimant in the suit, who raised concerns over the alleged processing of critical land documents, including the Right of Occupancy (R of O) and the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), in the midst of the unresolved ownership dispute.

In addition to the status quo order, Justice Oriji granted several other applications, including one for the correction of the first defendant’s name.

Counsel to the claimant, John Idoko, told the court that the name originally listed, Dunamis International Christian Centre was incorrect. He sought and obtained the court’s permission to replace it with the Registered Trustees of Dunamis International Church, the appropriate legal entity.

Speaking with reporters after the proceedings, Idoko explained that the amendment was in line with court rules and was necessary to ensure that the proper party was held accountable in law.

He also revealed that the court declined to entertain the submissions of an individual claiming to be JonahCapital’s majority shareholder, noting that the person was not formally joined in the suit.

Reaffirming its earlier position, the court again instructed all parties including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory to refrain from taking further steps on the disputed estate, particularly regarding the issuance or processing of land titles. River Park Estate, a prime real estate development along Airport Road in Abuja, has drawn significant interest from investors and developers, making the legal contest a high-stakes matter.

Reacting to the court’s orders, counsel for Dunamis, Barrister Felix Tyokase, said his client did not oppose the amendment of its name in the suit and firmly denied any allegations of encroachment.

“That order to maintain status quo was issued as far back as January. We have not interfered with their land, and the claimant has not produced any evidence to support their claims,” Tyokase said.

He further clarified that the pending dispute within JonahCapital over its internal structure and shareholding was a separate issue and would be addressed at the next hearing. According to him, Dunamis is not involved in that internal conflict.

The case itself revolves around competing claims over ownership of portions of River Park Estate. JonahCapital contends that it holds the legitimate title to significant parts of the estate and accuses Dunamis of unlawfully occupying some sections and converting them for its use, including as a parking area. Dunamis, on the other hand, maintains that it occupies land that was lawfully allocated to it by the authorities.

The court’s mention of the FCT Minister in the status quo order suggests that the dispute may have broader political and administrative implications beyond the private legal battle.

Legal analysts say the order to maintain status quo is key to preventing unlawful actions while the court determines the rightful owner of the land.

“This is not just a property dispute, it reflects deeper challenges in the FCT’s land management system,” said Amaka Ogbonna, a lawyer and real estate law expert.

“Cases like this often expose how political and administrative interference complicates clear ownership claims,” she added.