Abubakar Malami, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice; and Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, have been summoned by a Federal High Court on Friday, July 24 over the handover of the National Theatre to some developers when the building is still the subject of a pending lawsuit.
Among the five others summoned by Justice Ayokunle Faji is Access Bank of Nigeria Plc and its Managing Director, Herbert Wigwe.
Others summoned to appear before the court are the Minister, Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and National Orientation, the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), the National Theatre and the National Troupe of Nigeria Board.
Justice Faji summoned all the parties who are listed as defendant/respondents in a suit before it by a company, Topwideapeas Limited.
Topwideapeas Limited is reportedly designated as the concessionaire of the fallow land adjoining the National Theatre.
The company, through its lawyer, Chijioke Okoli, has filed an exparte application asking the court to reverse the handover in order to protect its interest in the property.
Okoli also complained that despite pending litigation on the structure, the National Theatre was handed over to the CBN, Access Bank of Nigeria Plc, and Herbert Wigwe on July 12.
The handover was said to have been purportedly done by the National Theatre and the National Troupe of Nigeria Board, the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), and the Minister, Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture & National Orientation who are listed as the 1st to 3rd defendant in the suit.
