…As Widow drags in-laws to court over inheritance***
A Federal High Court Lagos on Tuesday, adjourned until March 3, to hear a suit by a company, Topwideapeas Ltd, against the Minister of Interior, challenging nullification of its concession over the National Theatre Complex.
Topwideapeas Ltd, in the processes it submitted in court, described itself as a special purpose entity for the acquisition of the management right over the National Arts Theatre and its undeveloped lands in Lagos.
In the new suit filed by plaintiff”s counsel, Mr Chijoke Okoli, SAN, and marked FHC/L/CS/2392/19, the company prayed the court to declare as unlawful, the termination of its concession over the theatre.
Joined as defendants are ; National Theatre and National Troupe of Nigeria Board, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Minister of Interior, and the Attorney General of the Federation.
Also joined are: The Central Bank of Nigeria, Access Bank and Herbert Wigwe.
Plaintiff is seeking a declaration, that it is unlawful for the fifth to seventh defendants, to purport to truncate and nullify its rights as the concessionaire of the fallow land at the National theatre, by inducing a breach of its contract.
It wants the court to declare that the plaintiff has a valid and binding contract on the concession of the fallow land surrounding the National Theatre Complex in terms of the updated draft Concession Agreement between it and the Fedetal government.
It wants the court to declare the approval of the Federal Executive Council, as being a mere formality in the circumstances.
Plaintiff wants the court to declare that it is unlawful for the fifth to seventh defendant to truncate and nullify the Plaintifl‘s right over the concession of the fallow land in and about the National Theatre Complex lganmu. Lagos.
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It wants a declaration that it is contrary to public policy and constituting a misappropriation of “scarce public funds” for the fifth defendant to divert public funds towards any project concerning the National Theatre, when the Plaintiff and its partner have mobilized local and foreign private investment into developing same.
The plaintiff therefore, wants an order of perpetual injunction, stopping the defendants and their agents or privies, from interfering or doing anything whatsoever, inconsistent with the. Plaintiff’s right as the concessionaire of the fallow land in and about the National Theatre Complex.
It consequently, wants an order, directing the defendants to ensure a prompt handover of the fallow land in and about the National Theatre Complex, to the Plaintiff and its agents, for commencement of construction of the projects planned under the concession agreement.
Plaintiff is claiming the sum of N1 billion Naira in damages, against the defendants.
In the meantime, a 35-year-old widow, Marakisiyya Ibrahim on Tuesday, dragged her late husband’s sisters before a Shari’a Court sitting in Rigasa, Kaduna over their refusal her children their share of their father’s inheritance.
The complainant, who resides in Rigasa area of Kaduna, told the court that she has two children for her late husband and needed the inheritance to pay their school fees.
Ibrahim accused Rakiya, Maryam and A’i Abdullahi of refusing to hand her and her children their share of inheritance.
“My husband was a Muslim, but his siblings are not. I want this honourable court to assist me retrieve what is rightfully mine and my children’s,”she said.
The defendants, who reside in Unguwan Boro area of Kaduna, however were not in court due to lack of proper service.
The Judge, Malam Dahiru Bamalli, adjourned the matter until March 17 for hearing.
