By virtue of the provisions of Section 299 of the Constitution, it is so clear that Abuja, the Federal Capital of Nigeria has the status of a State. It is as if it is one of the States of the Federation. The 2nd Respondent, i.e. the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, though a Minister of the Federal Government occupies a similar position of Governor of a State, since Abuja is classified as a State by Section 299 of the Constitution. The 2nd Respondent is thus the Chief Executive of the Federal Capital Abuja. The Federal Capital Development Authority i.e. the 3rd Respondent is established by Section 3 of the Federal Capital Territory Act. It is a Governmental Agency of the Federal Territory, Abuja. It is the actions of the 2nd and 3rd Respondents that are challenged. They are both agents of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, which has the status of a State. They are not agencies of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
— O. Rhodes-Vivour, JSC. Bakari v. Ogundipe (2020) – SC.514/2015