By EDITH NWAPI

Justice Abubakar Shani of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Apo, has admitted further exhibits in a suit instituted by a company over non-payment for additional work on Abuja Zoological Garden, Treasure Island.

The company, Simitex Engineering Company Limited, in a suit marked HCHC/CV/4160/2024, dragged Red Sapphire Nig. Limited, FCT Minister, Director, Parks and Recreation Department and Development Control Abuja to court.

Simitex claimed that it made additional construction work worth more N25 million on a building identified as plot No 1772 AOI Garki District also known as Abuja Zoological Garden, Treasure Island.

The claimant stated that he performed additional work on the Park situated at Nasarawa Street, Area 1, Abuja, with the approval of the defendants, but that they reneged on the agreement of making refunds after re-acquiring the property.

At the resumed sitting of the matter on Monday, Counsel to the Claimant, Abubakar Abdulkareem, continued his evidence-in-chief with his first witness (PW1), Ibrahim Tajudeen.

The witness in his testimony confirmed the official documents involved in their relationship with their former landlord, Red Sapphire Nig. Limited, the first defendant.

He tendered six pictures and a document through the witness which were admitted in evidence.

The Defence Counsel, Promise Choko, did not object to the admissibility of the documents.

When questioned on another document, a Bill of Quantities, PW1 said that he could confirm the document because it contained the name and logo of Simitex Engineering Company Limited.

The claimant also tendered a judgment and process from the Magistrates court, but Choko objected to it, saying that it was a public document which must be certified according to the law.

Following arguments and counter arguments by both parties, Justice Shani subsequently adjourned until Oct 9, 2025 for ruling on the admissibility and for cross examination of PW1.

The claimant had in a writ of summons among other issues sought an order of the court directing that “having expended its money for the construction of the three office rooms with the consent, of the 1st defendant that the claimant should be adequately reimbursed.

This the claimant further stated in the letters of demand dated Aug. 12, 2024 and Sept.5, 2024 respectively.

The claimant further sought “An order of the court restraining the 1st defendant from making use in whatsoever form of the three-room office space constructed until payment is made.

“An order of the court mandating/directing the 1st to 4th defendants to jointly and severally pay the claimant the sum of N25,000,000 only, as the construction cost. (NAN)