The case filed by De Renaissance Patriots Foundation and Ibeju-Lekki Peoples Forum scheduled to come up for mention on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, was stalled by the absence of the judge, Lagos State Government, Attorney General and the other two defendants.
The case involves a request for clarification on the statement made by prominent businessman Alhaji Aliko Dangote that he paid $100 million to the Lagos State Government.
The case filed at the Federal High Court of Nigeria in the Lagos Judicial Division stalled following the absence of the judge and the Attorney General of the state, and some other defendants.
However, the Applicants – De Renaissance Patriots Foundation and Ibeju-Lekki Peoples Forum – were present in court.
The application seeks to compel Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Attorney General, the Accountant General, the Permanent Secretary of the Lands Bureau, and the Lagos State Government to confirm the veracity of Dangote’s claim.
Specifically, the court is tasked with compelling the state government to disclose whether Dangote’s assertion that he paid $100 million to the government is factual or erroneous.
Should the claim be verified, the Applicants want the Lagos State Government to provide a comprehensive and detailed account of the transaction, addressing critical questions such as why there was no public statement issued regarding this significant financial transaction.
The lawsuit seeks to uncover the truth surrounding Dangote’s claim and ensure transparency and accountability in the handling of public funds.
The court’s ruling is anticipated to shed light on the circumstances surrounding this substantial payment and its potential impact on the lives of the Ibeju-Lekki community.
But the judge did not sit on Tuesday, leaving the Applicants frustrated.
No date has been fixed yet by the court for the hearing, the legal counsel for the applicants, Yakubu Eleto Esq, said.
The Federal High Court of Nigeria in the Lagos Judicial Division had slated a hearing for October 22 regarding an application.
However, on Tuesday, it was observed that Justice Ayoola Olayinka Faji did not sit and none of the defendants showed up.
When it became obvious that the court was not going to sit, the affected natives were seen on the court premises chanting slogans of commitment and resilience saying, “Solidarity forever, we shall always fight for our right.”
Speaking on the development, Eleto said, “The judge did not sit. Our people were in court and, as you can see, the absence of the judge, Lagos State government, the state’s Attorney General and other defendants frustrated the hearing of the $100 million Dangote’s land deal money today the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.
“Why it is understandable that the judge has a discretion of not to come to court, the defendants, who are being requested to tell the public about how they spent the $100 million paid to them by Dangote over the 7,000 acres land of Ibeju-Lekki natives used to build the Dangote Refinery, failed to come to court.”
This was contained in an originating motion, brought under Section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended; Sections 1,3, 4, 7, 20 and 24 of the Freedom of Information Act 2011 and Inherent jurisdiction of the Honourable Court in the matter.
The application was filed by De Renaissance Patriots Foundation and Ibeju-Lekki Peoples Forum, joining Mr. Sanwo-Olu (Lagos State Governor), Attorney General of Lagos State, Accountant General of Lagos State, Permanent Secretary, Lands Bureau, Lagos State and Lagos State Government, as the 1st to 5th Respondents.
The motion, filed and registered by the court with Suit no FHC/L/CS/1603/2024 at 1:20pm on Friday September 6, 2024, is asking the court for an Order of Mandamus to be issued against the respondents to compel the Lagos State Government to release the information required by the applicants.(SaharaReporters)
