Starline Nigeria Limited, a cosmetics and pharmaceutical manufacturing company in Abia State, is engaged in a legal dispute with the Federal Government of Nigeria over the ownership of approximately 815.76 acres of land (measuring 1,651,605 square meters and 1,649,673 square meters respectively) in the Southeast state.
The case is currently before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/545/2024, Starline is seeking to reverse a subsisting court judgment by Justice Binta Nyako, alleging that the judgment relied on the concealment of material facts and deceit. The federal government strongly denies these assertions.
Starline claims to have purchased the property at No. 10 Abak Street, GRA, Aba, Abia State, from the Imo State Agricultural Development Corporation in 1983 and has been in peaceful possession until April 3, 2024, when the defendants purportedly executed a judgment in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1252/2023. Starline argues that the Federal High Court in Abuja lacked jurisdiction to preside over a land dispute arising from Abia State.
The federal government, in its statement of defense, contends that the property in question belongs to the federal government, not the Abia State Government, as per Section 49 (1) of the Land Use Act, 1978. The government maintains that federal properties in the Government Reserved Areas (GRAs) of Abia State and other states belong to the federal government until legally disposed of by the appropriate federal agency.
The federal government served Starline with a Notice to Quit and intention to recover its property on March 9, 2020, after noticing the company’s alleged illegal occupation. The government argues that the state governor lacks the power to administer lands vested in the federal government within the state’s territory.
Starline is seeking to quash Justice Nyako’s judgment, set aside all steps taken by the defendants in executing the judgment, and restrain them from further implementation. The company also seeks N100,000,000.00 in general damages against Consolid and the second defendants for the inconvenience, distress, and embarrassment caused.