June 21, (THEWILL) – A Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State, has granted the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) permission to serve court processes on four Ogun State commissioners and other parties involved in a suit over alleged lack of transparency in land and housing allocations.
The directive was issued by Hon. Justice A.A. Okeke, who ordered that the originating summons filed in suit number FHC/AB/CS/43/2025 be served on the Commissioners for Housing, Finance, Works, and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.
Also joined as defendants in the suit are the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The Ogun State chapter of CUPP, through its Chairman, Otunba Olufemi Soluade; the State Secretary, Comrade Samson Okunsanya; and a member, Alhaji Moshood Adesina, filed the ex parte motion before the Federal High Court in Abeokuta.
The motion, dated March 21, 2025, and signed by Prof. Yemi Oke (SAN), sought nine reliefs, primarily concerning the disclosure of names and details of allottees of state-owned lands and housing schemes spread across the three senatorial districts of the state.
Specifically, the plaintiffs asked the court for an order of mandamus compelling the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; the Attorney General; and the Commissioners for Housing, Works, and Finance to release the full particulars of allottees, including proof of payment and documentation of the allocation processes.
The housing schemes under scrutiny include the GRA Regeneration Scheme in Abeokuta; Idi-Aba Housing Scheme; Old Government Technical College, Olobe, Abeokuta; Igbeba Housing Scheme in Ijebu-Ode; and the Muhammadu Buhari Estate, Kobape, Abeokuta.
Others include Workers’ Estate, Kobape; Prince Court Estates in Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode, and Ilaro; as well as the Gateway Aviation Village in Iperu-Remo.
The plaintiffs said the requested documents are essential for onward transmission to the EFCC and ICPC for verification and confirmation, citing Section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.
They argued that the requested information would help determine whether the allocations followed due process, if competitive bidding was observed, and whether the contractors involved have a record of verifiable past performance.
It was gathered that the legal action followed the refusal of the Ministry of Housing to provide the information earlier requested by CUPP in January 2025. A final notice was sent to the state government on February 10, 2025, before the suit was eventually filed.
Justice Okeke ruled that the court has jurisdiction to hear the matter and adjourned further proceedings to October 15, 2025, for the hearing of the originating summons.
