The management of Obike Industries Nigeria Limited, owners of Peka Park and Garden in Wuse Zone 3, Abuja, has raised the alarm over the demolition of the recreational facility, alleging that the action was carried out despite a subsisting court order restraining the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) authorities from interfering with the property.

The company said the demolition destroyed buildings, equipment and other facilities worth more than N1 billion and displaced over 100 workers.

Director of Obike Industries, Onyeka Ikenta, who disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja yesterday, appealed to President Bola Tinubu, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, the National Assembly and the judiciary to intervene and ensure that the rule of law prevailed.

Ikenta said the property, identified as Plot 1353, Cadastral Zone A02, Wuse 1 District, was originally designated as a green area by the FCT Administration before it was allocated to the company in 2007 following a competitive process for its management and development.

According to him, the company complied with the relevant procedures, made the required payments and obtained approvals from the appropriate FCT authorities before developing the recreational facility.

He said the company later ran into problems over alleged encroachment on the property by adjoining developments, prompting it to petition the authorities and eventually institute legal proceedings in 2016.

Ikenta said the case, marked CV-840-2016, was instituted against the FCT Minister, the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and other parties.

He added that the High Court of the FCT subsequently issued an interlocutory injunction restraining the first and second defendants from dealing with the property in a manner adverse to the company’s interests.

According to him, the court inspected the disputed property on March 2, 2017, before delivering its ruling on March 9, 2017.

Ikenta, however, alleged that officials of the FCT Administration returned to the property in September 2026 and issued a notice directing the company to vacate on the grounds that the property had been revoked and allocated or sold to another party.

He said the company immediately wrote to Wike and relevant FCT officials, drawing their attention to the court order and warning against any action that could interfere with the subject matter of the litigation.

Ikenta said the company also commenced contempt proceedings by filing Form 48 and subsequently Form 49 after the alleged demolition began.

“Despite all the processes we had undertaken according to law, these actions did not deter those involved. On September 24, officials came into these premises with caterpillars and bulldozers to demolish the perimeter fence,” he alleged.

He said the company again reminded the officials of the subsisting court order but was allegedly told that they had instructions “from above” to demolish the structures.

Ikenta further alleged that heavy equipment returned to the property on September 28 and continued the demolition, while security personnel were deployed to the premises.

Expressing concern over the development, he said the company had chosen judicial redress rather than resorting to self-help.

“What is the hope of a Nigerian who intends to contribute economically and socially to ensure that this country progresses, if law enforcement agents of the state are involved in destroying the property of a Nigerian?” he asked.

Ikenta said the recreational facility had operated for more than a decade, providing employment for over 100 people and serving residents and visitors to the FCT.

He also raised concerns over what he described as the conversion of green areas and recreational spaces to residential developments, arguing that such spaces were important for flood management, recreation and tourism.

He said the company had invested hundreds of millions of naira in the facility, while the preliminary value of the buildings, equipment and other assets destroyed had been put at more than N1 billion.

The director appealed to Tinubu to investigate the circumstances surrounding the demolition and ensure that the rule of law was upheld.

He also urged Wike to clarify whether the demolition was authorised by his office and, if not, investigate the officials allegedly acting in his name.

Ikenta called on the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives and other lawmakers to intervene, arguing that alleged disobedience of court orders could undermine public confidence in the judiciary and discourage investment.

He stressed that the company remained committed to pursuing the matter through lawful channels, saying it was not seeking confrontation but justice.

“It is not too late to reverse this act. We are calling on the relevant authorities to stop what is going on and allow the judicial process to take its course,” he said.

Ikenta said the company was still assessing the full extent of the damage but maintained that its preliminary assessment put the value of the buildings, equipment and other property destroyed at more than N1 billion.

He appealed for the facility to be restored and allowed to continue operating as a recreational and tourism centre pending the resolution of the legal dispute.