The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Kwali, Abuja, is set to begin hearing on Friday, May 16, in a N50 million debt suit against GreenArps Project Limited, a company linked to prominent business mogul Kessington Adebutu, popularly known as Baba Ijebu.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of a technical consortium to GreenArps Project Limited, seeks an order directing the defendant to pay the remaining balance of N50 million plus accrued interest since 2023. The consortium claims they assisted GreenArps in bidding for and winning the concession of the National Stadium in Lagos in 2023.

Notably, the court proceedings are commencing just as the concession is expected to be presented before the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for final approval.

According to court documents, the consortium dragged GreenArps to court for allegedly refusing to pay the remaining balance of negotiated fees and additional services rendered, which they claim directly contributed to the company's successful concession bid.

At the last court session on May 9, Justice Abdulraman Usman scheduled May 16 for the commencement of a speedy trial in the suit, which was initially filed on January 10, 2025.

Progress in the case has been hampered by jurisdictional objections raised by the defendant, who has yet to file a defense. The claimant, Raji Rasaq Adeshina, representing himself and other technical partners, had previously urged the court in March to transfer the suit to the Undefended List and enter judgment in his favor, citing the defendant's failure to file a defense.

However, the judge declined this request and instead ordered a Fast Track Procedure, setting May 9 for the hearing. Dissatisfied with this ruling, the defendant filed an application on May 5 seeking a stay of proceedings, based on an appeal lodged at the Court of Appeal on May 2 against the court's April 9 ruling.

In response, the claimant's lawyer, Austin Otah, accused the defendant of attempting to obstruct the May 9 proceedings and urged the court to dismiss the application and proceed with the trial.

"In the instant case, the applicant has failed to file any pleadings yet seeks to truncate or suspend or vitiate the proceedings before this Honourable Court not on the merit of its defence, if any, to this suit but by other spurious, frivolous or desperate means," the claimant submitted.

The case, marked CV/57/2025, involves GreenArps Project Limited, owned and managed by Kessington Adebukuola Adebutu (Baba Ijebu), which allegedly defaulted on full payment for services that led to their successful bid for the National Stadium concession in November 2023.

The court's decision on Friday could have significant implications for the National Stadium concession process as it moves toward final approval by the Federal Executive Council.