FCT High Court dismisses ₦1.818bn professional fee suit against Abia govt
High Court Dismisses ₦1.8 Billion Suit Against Abia State Government
Abuja, Nigeria – The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory dismissed a lawsuit on Thursday that sought ₦1,818,357,756.86 in professional fees from the Abia State Government.
The court determined that the legal action constituted an abuse of court process. The suit, identified as No. CV/1136/24, was filed by Olusola Oke, SAN.
In a successful preliminary objection, Ken Ahia, SAN, represented the state, reiterating arguments made in a similar previous case involving the same parties and claims. The Abia State Government argued that it had already disbursed over ₦2 billion to a different consultant for similar services. Furthermore, the state contended that Oke had previously represented Imo State in a related matter, undermining the legitimacy of the fee claim.
The court concluded that refiling significantly identical claims amounted to forum shopping, thus ruling for dismissal rather than a simple strikeout. As a result of this decision, Abia State avoids potential liability exceeding ₦1.8 billion.
