The N1 billion lawsuit against former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami was dismissed by a Kubwa-based FCT High Court.
Ms. Asabe Waziri, a government servant, and the Federal Ministry of Justice and the previous minister’s office were also sued.
Property developer Mr. Cecil Osakwe, of Abuja, filed the lawsuit against the former minister, Waziri, and the other two in his individual capacity.
However, on Thursday, Justice Oluyemisi Adelaja dismissed the case, citing Osakwe’s lack of assiduous prosecution.
“The claimant is the one who filed the action and is required to be seen diligently prosecuting same but they are not in court and there is no reason for their absence before the court.
“They have, therefore, been absent without reason and consequent upon Order 32 Rule 4, this case is ordered struck out for want of diligent prosecution,’’ Adelaja ordered.
Recall that Osakwe was the target of a two-count lawsuit brought by the Federal Government in June 2022, under the suit number FCT/HC/CR/244/2022, alleging N130 million in advance fee fraud.
Waziri, an employee of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, was also accused of criminal intimidation in the lawsuit. It claimed that Osakwe had threatened Waziri with harm to her person and reputation with the intention of causing her harm or even death.
Waziri allegedly paid N130 million for a two-bedroom home in Maitama, a posh neighborhood of the Federal Capital Territory, from Osakwe.
After Osakwe was charged on two counts, he went on to sue the former minister of justice and attorney general of the federation.
Waziri and the Federal Ministry of Justice were among the other parties to the lawsuit.
Osakwe requested remedy through his attorney, Mr. Victor Giwa, including a ruling ordering Malami to give him N1 billion in punitive damages.
In addition, the developer requested a court order instructing the defendants to pay him N100 million in general damages, jointly and severally.
