- By Abiola Olawale
The Federal High Court of Nigeria in the Lagos Judicial Division has scheduled a hearing for October 22 over a lawsuit filed by the De Renaissance Patriots Foundation and Ibeju-Lekki Peoples Forum against the Lagos State Government.
The court is scheduled to commence hearing on October 22 regarding a claim attributed to Nigerian billionaire business magnate , Alhaji Aliko Dangote.
The claim pertains to an alleged payment of $100 million to the Lagos State Government for the acquisition of the land on which Dangote refinery was constructed.
In the lawsuit marked FHC/L/CS/1603/2024, the applicants are seeking a court order compelling Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, 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.
They also asked the court to compel 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 – De Renaissance Patriots Foundation and Ibeju-Lekki Peoples Forum – 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 application was filed by De Renaissance Patriots Foundation and Ibeju-Lekki Peoples Forum, joining Mr Babajide 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.