A civil servant and staff of the Nigerian National Petorleum Company Limited, NNPCL, Ms Asabe Waziri has threatened two media platforms with lawsuit for publishing a factual report on the illegal invasion of a property in Maitama District of Abuja.
Asabe, through her lawyer, Victor Okwudiri, Esq., threatened two online media, The Nigerian Lawyers and BarristerNG with lawsuits, if they fail to pull down the report or publish a retarction of the report.
The two online media platforms had reported with documentary evidence how Asabe disobeyed court order that barred her from interfering with the peace and qiuetness of No 1, Mekong Close, Maitama.
Two flats in the property have been in dispute between Asabe Waziri and Abeh Signatures Limited for about three years.
The online platforms had carried a factual report that Asabe disobeyed the lawful order of court after she invaded a property located at No 1, Mekong Close, Maitama, Abuja.
A motion for contempt was subsequently filed against her for not obeying court order.
In the contempt charge with motion number, FCT/HC/M/11211/2022 and dated March 19, 2024, it was said that unless Asabe Waziri obeys court order, she will be liable to be committed to prison.
Part of the motion reads, “Notice of consequences of disobedience to court order pursuant to sections 72 & 85 of the Shefiffs and civil process act (cap c 38) LFN 2004 and under the inherent jurisdiction of this honourable court. Take notice that unless you have obeyed the direction and orders(s) contained in the order(S) of this Honorable Court delivered on 21st February 2023 attached hereto, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison.”
A High Court of Justice of the Federal Capital Territory had barred Asabe from interfering, trespassing and disturbing the quiet possession of the applicant, To keep Bariwa, to the property located in Maitama District of Abuja.
Despite being aware of the court order barring her from going to do the property, Asabe secured the backing of the police to give her cover to take over the property.
The court had ordered Asabe Waziri not to go near the property pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The order reads, “upon reading the Motion on Notice along with the accompanying affidavit of Yinke Bariwa inciudng the wiitten oddress filed along with the application. And upon hearing A.V GANI (Esq) Counsel for the Claimant/Appilicant.
“Court hereby makes the following order(s): leave of ths court is granted to the Clamant/Appitcant for an interlocutory injunction restraining the 1sy Defendant/Respondent (Asabe Waziri) from imterfenng. trespassing, disturbing the quiet possession of the Applicants or doing anything adverse to property described as a two (2) bedroom unit, of flat 3B and 3C, Abeh signature Apartments, 1, Mekong Close. Maitama Abuja FCT, pending the hearing of the substontive suit with Reference No: CV/3261/22”
But Asabe’s lawyer, Barrister Okwudiri, in a letter written to the two online media platforms, dated 25th March, 2024, demanded for an apology.
Parts of the letter read, “Suffice it to say that the said publication, which is libelous and vexatious, is intended to subject our client to opprobrium, and has so done. As such, we demand as follows: a published retraction of the said publication, with immediate effect; an immediate removal of the said publication from your news outlet/blog and every other platform or outlet you published it; and a published apology to our client.
“Take Notice that failure to meet the afore-stated demands within seven (7) days will leave us with one course of action – to seek redress in a court of law.”
