Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday, directed parties in an alleged contract breach brought against the Federal Ministry of Interior to maintain the status quo pending the hearing of the substantive suit.
 
A firm, Anchor Dataware Solutions Limited, had taken the ministry and two others to court over the alleged wrongful termination of its contract for the management and maintenance of the e-Citibiz platform—an automation system for processing expatriate quotas, business permits, citizenship administration, and marriage registration. 
 
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/770/2025, lists the Federal Ministry of Interior, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and the Federal Republic of Nigeria as first to third defendants.
 
The company is seeking several declarations and reliefs, including a pronouncement that the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement signed with the ministry remains valid and binding. 

It also wants the court to declare that the purported disengagement of its services via a letter dated April 15, 2025, was unlawful and in breach of the contract terms. 
 
Anchor Dataware further seeks an injunction restraining the ministry from engaging another service provider, except by the procedures set out in Clause 13.1 of the contract, which requires a three-month notice period for termination. 
 
The firm is also asking for N20 million in damages.At yesterday’s proceedings, counsel to the plaintiff, A.O. Amagwula, and defence counsel to the defendants, Abiola Olawola, appeared before the court. The matter had earlier been adjourned on April 24 to enable parties to be put on notice for a motion hearing.