Abuja High Court Orders Parties to Maintain Status Quo on Disputed River Park Estate Properties
An Abuja High Court has directed all parties involved in the dispute over River Park Estate, located along the Airport Road corridor of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to maintain the status quo and refrain from any action concerning the contested properties.
The ruling, delivered by Justice S. U. Bature, follows an oral application from counsel to the claimant, Jonah Capital Nigeria Limited, seeking protection against further interference with land documents tied to the estate.
In his order, Justice Bature barred all parties, including the Minister of the FCT, from processing or altering any documents related to the Right of Occupancy or Certificate of Occupancy on the disputed land until the court reaches a final decision.
The matter has been adjourned for further hearing on October 27, 2025.
The court also approved a procedural amendment, correcting the name of the first defendant from “Dunamis International Christian Centre” to the proper legal entity,
“Registered Trustees of Dunamis International Church.” Counsel to Jonah Capital, John Idoko, said the correction was vital for legal clarity, while the church’s lawyer, Felix Tyokase, welcomed the adjustment and maintained that Dunamis was not trespassing on any land belonging to the claimant.
Tyokase added that the church occupies land legitimately allocated to it by the authorities and that a prior order to maintain status quo had already been in effect since January.
Justice Bature further dismissed claims by an individual who argued he was a majority shareholder in Jonah Capital, ruling that the person was not a party to the suit and therefore lacked legal standing.
The dispute centers on allegations by Jonah Capital that Dunamis Church encroached on portions of River Park Estate for church facilities, including parking space.
Dunamis has consistently denied the allegations, insisting that it has no interest in land outside what was lawfully allocated.
Beyond the civil case, the controversy has attracted law enforcement scrutiny, with the Nigeria Police Force probing allegations of forgery and corporate fraud linked to the estate. Investigators have indicated that some individuals may face prosecution over alleged falsification of documents connected to the property.
The River Park case highlights the recurring tensions over land rights and documentation in Abuja, where overlapping claims, allocation controversies, and disputes between developers and institutions have become a familiar feature of the city’s rapid urban expansion.
