In a contract dispute involving the Federal Ministry of Interior, a Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, ordered the parties to preserve status quo awaiting the substantive suit hearing on Monday.
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This comes after Anchor Dataware Solutions Limited sued the Nigerian federal government, including the ministries of interior, justice, and attorney general.
The e-Citibiz platform automates processes such as expatriate quotas, business permits, citizenship, and marriage registrations; the claimant claimed that its contract to operate and maintain the platform was unfairly terminated.
This lawsuit (FHC/ABJ/CS/770/2025) is asking for a lot of statements, one of which is that the firm’s and the Ministry’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement is still in effect.
Unless the Ministry follows the protocol of a three-month termination notice as stated in the contract, especially in Clause 13.1, Anchor Dataware is seeking an injunction preventing the appointment of a different service provider.
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The letter dated 15 April 2025 was used to suggest that the disengagement was unlawful and a breach of the contract.
Additionally, ₦20 million in damages is being demanded by Anchor Dataware. The claimant’s attorney, A.O. Amagwula, and the defendants’ attorney, Abiola Olawola, were both present in court on Monday.
Because the claimant’s counter-affidavit had already been served on the defense, and the defense still had time to react under statutory requirements, Olawola notified the court that the matter, which had been delayed on 24 April to allow for appropriate delivery of court proceedings, was again postponed.
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While Amagwula did not directly challenge the motion to postpone, she did ask the court to officially tell everyone involved to keep things as they are so the litigation’s subject could be safeguarded.
Justice Nwite emphasized in a brief judgment that all parties must avoid from doing anything that could impact the content of the case once it is before the court.
It is a record court. The judge stated that parties must refrain from taking any further action on any matter pertaining to the case until the substantive suit is heard, stating that this is a question of justice.
The defendants’ legal team reassured the judge that their client would follow the rules of the court and refrain from doing anything that could damage their case. The hearing on the subject has been postponed until June 3, 2025.