HAJIA YINUSA BAKARI V. DEACONESS (MRS) FELICIA ARINOLA OGUNDIPE & 3 ORS

OLABODE RHODES-VIVOUR, J.S.C. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): The 1st Respondent/ Plaintiff served in the Federal Civil Service for thirty-five years. She ended her career as a Federal Civil Servant as the Director of Library Services of the Supreme Court. She retired on 15 January, 2004 after thirty-five 35 years unblemished service in the Federal Civil Service. While in service in the Supreme Court she was allocated a 3 bedroom duplex at Block D44, Flat 3, Zone F Extension Apo Abuja, as her official quarters. She lived in the property thereafter. On 1 October, 2003, the Federal Government commenced a monetization policy of fringe benefits in the Civil Service. The thrust of this policy among other things was the sale of Federal Government Houses (i.e. residential Houses, etc). By this policy, the 1st Respondent was entitled to be given the right of first refusal since she had been living in the house for over five years. The 1st Respondent was interested in acquiring the house, s…