Court Restrains Kogi Govt. From Further Disrupting Dangote’s Operations

Kogi State Government and Its agents have been restrained from further disrupting the operations of Dangote Cement Plc and its associated companies in the state by the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday.

Gatekeepers News reports that Justice Binta Nyako ruled on two ex parte motions filed along with two substantive suits by Dangote Coal Mines Limited, Dangote Industries Limited and Dangote Cement Plc through their lawyer, Ricky Tarfa (SAN).

The defendants listed in both suits are: the Kogi State House of Assembly, the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Mining Cadastre Office and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

The Plaintiffs’ lawyer, Regina Okotie-Eboh, told the court that it was important to grant the reliefs sought in view of the threat the activities of the Kogi State Government and its agents posed to the companies and the jobs of many Nigerians engaged by the organisations.

Okotie-Eboh said the Kogi State Government and its agents restricted operations of the companies, invaded and disrupted the business, risking jobs and production of cement in Nigeria despite not having the power to do so.

Justice Nyako granted the reliefs sought, ordered the applicants to serve the defendants with the motions on notice within 14 days and adjourned the matter till November 21 for hearing.

Some of the reliefs sought in the motions include: An order of interim injunction restraining the defendants/respondents or any person purporting to act on their behalf from extending the exercise of the first defendant’s oversight functions outside the Concurrent and Residual Legislative List and unto the Exclusive Legislative List of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.