Court Fixes May 5 For Continuation Of Trial In $48m Suit Against Dangote

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday fixed May 5 for the continuation of trial in a suit filed by Oba Otudeko against Alhaji Aliko Dangote, over a land dispute.‬ Otudeko, Chairman of the Honeywell Group, had filed the suit, claiming the sum of 48 million dollars as damages for breach of contract. In the suit, number FHC/L/CS/329/06, the NPA, Bureau of Public Enterprises (PBE), Dangote Industries Ltd, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Greenview Development Nig. Ltd, are listed as first, second, third, fourth and fifth defendants, respectively. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that when the case was called on Wednesday, counsel to the plaintiff, Dr Joseph Nwobike (SAN), told the court that his witness was indisposed. He had, therefore, prayed the court for an adjournment, to enable his witness attend court. The defence counsel did not object to the prayer for adjournment. Justice Okon Abang consequently adjourned the case till May 5, for continuation of trial. NAN reports that the plaintiff is claiming the damage sum, for breach of contract over 10.8 square metres of land within the Lagos Ports Complex, known as the 5th Apapa Wharf Extension. Otudeko said, in his statement of facts, that by an agreement, NPA leased the said land to him for five years at a consideration of N2.2 million yearly. He said that the land was for the purpose of setting up a bulk food handling facility, adding that in keeping with the agreement, it paid the aforesaid amount and an additional N290, 000 for survey. According to the plaintiff, the BPE suddenly suspended his pre-existing rights, and granted the concession to Greenview Development. Ltd, belonging to Dangote. He said that NPA and BPE latter asked him to vacate the facility so as to ensure a smooth transfer to the new operator. Otudeko claimed that Dangote, through his agents, harassed, threatened and ordered his officials to vacate the land. He said that by the forceful eviction, he lost the profit it would have made and was greatly injured in its business. Otudeko is, therefore, urging the court to declare Honeywell Group as the exclusive legal occupier of the land and to restrain the defendants from treating it as stranger or trespasser on the land. He also wants the sum of 48 million dollars as damages, for additional expenses required to build the bulk food handling facility.