By Daniel Tyokua
Court of Appeal setting in Abuja, has declared Winning Clause Nigeria Limited as real owner of Kafe district after the community loses four times in court.
This follows an enforcement operation carried out on Tuesday in Abuja, in respect to the separate court judgments, including a recent Court of Appeal decision, declaring the Kuchibedna community illegal occupants of Plot 67, Cadastral Zone C05, Kafe District, and ordered the land returned to the rightful allottee.
Counsel to the claimant, Marx Ikongbeh, in a judgement made available to newsmen, said the action was undertaken strictly in compliance with binding court pronouncements that consistently affirmed the community’s status as trespassers on the disputed land.
“What you witnessed today is the enforcement of three High Court judgments and one Court of Appeal judgment, all of which held that Kuchibedna Community are illegal trespassers on Plot 67,” Ikongbeh said.
“The Court also issued an order of specific performance directing the FCT Minister to give vacant possession to the Company so it can proceed with development.”
According to the documents, the land dispute dates back to 2011, when Winning Clause Nig. Ltd received the original allocation.
The company maintains that it paid compensation to the community three different times, yet residents refused to vacate. Instead, the community allegedly expanded into other parts of the estate, selling plots to non-indigenes and creating a larger settlement.
Court records listed in the press kit show: 2016 – Justice Chizoba Oji dismissed the community’s claims, declaring them squatters not entitled to compensation.
2017 – Justice D.Z. Senchi again held that they were trespassers.
2021 – Justice A.O. Ebong ruled in favour of Winning Clause, affirming illegal occupation.
February 2025 – Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CV/696/2022, upheld the High Court findings and reaffirmed the community’s trespass.
An enrolled Court of Appeal judgment order dated 22 August 2025, along with a Warrant of Possession issued on 23 September 2025, formed the basis for the enforcement.
Ikongbeh noted that even after the community lost in court multiple times, the company showed “unusual magnanimity” by paying compensation again to non-indigenes residing in the area.
A letter from the FCDA Department of Resettlement and Compensation dated 25 November 2016, included in the evidence file, confirms the company fulfilled all compensation obligations.
Yet, the community continued to sell land and expand the illegal settlement. Enforcement Aimed at Restoring Order, Ending Security Threats
The company further alleged that the illegal settlement had become a security risk, with reports of killings, drug activity, “one-chance” operations, and other vices flourishing within the area.
“The community created a den of criminality in the neighbourhood,” the counsel stated.
“Despite judgments and compensation, they continued to occupy and expand the village in defiance of the court.”
Winning Clause says the enforcement finally clears the way for development of the estate, 14 years after the original allocation.
Ikongbeh emphasized that the company is prepared to provide further clarifications and has released supporting documents including judgments, compensation records, and agreements through a digital archive provided to journalists.
However, the Developer has commenced the demolition of the illegal structures in Kuchibedna community and vowed to complete it.
