Niger State: Court restrains Bago, 5 others from entering farmland pending determination of substantive suit

Justice Mohammed Mohammed of Minna High Court number 4 has granted an interim order restraining the Niger State governor Mohammed Umar Bago and 5 others from entering into farmland belonging Bello Wakili and nine members of his family pending the final determination into a suit filed against the defendants.

In a suit number NSHC/MN/ 215/2025 filed by Barrister Solomon Ogbeche on behalf of the ten plaintiffs, prayed the court to restrain the governor and 5 others from entering into the plaintiffs’ farmland located along Tagwai Dam in Bosso Local government area of Niger State pending the final determination of suit.

Joined in the suit Include, the Niger State government, the Niger State Ministry of Lands, the Commissioner for Lands in Niger state, the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of Niger State and Niger Foods Limited.

The court further ordered that the defendants have also been jointly and severally restrained from carrying out any type of work “at all whatsoever on the plaintiffs’ farmland pending the hearing and final determination of the motion on notice filed in the court”.

While granting the order, Justice Mohammed Mohammed held that all the defendants have been ordered to henceforth restrain themselves from carrying out any works on the land until the final hearing and determination of suit.

However, despite the court order, the defendants have deliberately defied the court which prompted Barrister Solomon Ogbeche to file a contempt suit against the defendants praying the court to commit them to the Correctional Custody.

The court then adjourned the case to 16th, of August, 2025 for hearing of the motion on notice.