Wike, Appeal Court President Sued Over IBB Club Trusteeship

Wike (in suit) inaugurates the BoT of the IBB golf club. Monica Dongban-Mensem is to the minister's right

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the Chairman of the Incorporated Trustees of IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, have been taken before the Federal High Court in Abuja over the recent appointment of trustees made by the FCT administration. The suit, filed before Justice Emeka Nwite, challenges the legality of these appointments and seeks to restrain the newly appointed board from taking office.

The legal action was instituted by Ubong Esop Akpan, Tijani Abdulsalam Ogueyi, and Olalere Babasola, who are all members of the IBB Golf and Country Club. Other defendants named in the suit include the club captain, Ibrahim Babayo, the secretary, Bola Aliyu-Faniyan, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and Chief Joe Kyari-Gadzama (SAN).

In a motion ex parte filed on April 14, 2025, the plaintiffs are seeking an order of interim injunction to prevent the defendants from submitting the names and particulars of the newly appointed members of the Board of Trustees for registration and approval under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020, pending the resolution of the motion on notice.

The plaintiffs also request the court to stop the trustees, led by Justice Dongban-Mensem—who also serves as President of the Court of Appeal—and Ibrahim Babayo from presiding over the club’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), which is scheduled for April 26, or any rescheduled date, until the substantive suit is heard and determined.

Furthermore, the motion seeks to restrain Justice Dongban-Mensem and all other trustees appointed by the FCT Minister, along with their representatives, from assuming office or publicly presenting themselves as members of the Board of Trustees.

Justice Emeka Nwite, after listening to the arguments presented by the plaintiffs’ legal representative, Abdulaziz Ibrahim (SAN), directed that all the named defendants be served with notice of the suit and adjourned the hearing of the motion on notice to April 22, 2025.

In an affidavit deposed to by Akpan, he affirmed that he is a financial and active member of the IBB International Golf and Country Club. He stated that the club is duly registered with the CAC as an incorporated trusteeship entity and operates under a constitution that governs its internal affairs.

Akpan attached to the affidavit a copy of the minutes from a meeting held on April 27, 2024, where resolutions were passed regarding the appointment of trustees and the amendment of the club’s constitution. These resolutions also directed that the club’s constitution be registered through Chief Gadzama, the sixth defendant in the case.

He emphasized that the IBB Golf Club must be governed by trustees who are either elected or appointed by its general membership, in accordance with the club’s constitution and provisions of the CAMA Act 2020. Akpan argued that no AGM or Extra General Meeting was held to elect or appoint Justice Dongban-Mensem and the other newly named trustees, as required by clause 6.2 of the current constitution (Exhibit C2).

He also highlighted that the FCT Administration had issued a Certificate of Occupancy to the club in 2011, signed by the then Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, and delivered by then FCT Permanent Secretary, John Chukwu.

The suit raises significant constitutional and procedural questions about the governance of one of Abuja’s most prominent recreational institutions and the extent of ministerial authority in appointing board members without the participation of the club’s general assembly.