The Kogi State State Government has taken legal action against Dangote Industries Limited, the parent company of Dangote Cement Plc, regarding the ownership of the Obajana cement plant, a town in the Oworo region of the Lokoja Local Government Area.
According to The PUNCH, the complaint was filed in the Kogi State High Court, Lokoja Judicial Division, as evidenced by a copy of the original summons marked HcL/8T/2022.
In the complaint dated October 18, 2022, the state government requests that the court closely review the agreements reached between DIL and the government of Kogi on July 30, 2002, and February 14, 2003, respectively, in order to uncover the fact that due consideration was missing in the contract.
In addition, the government is requesting that the agreement be declared void for lack of reasonable consideration, a requirement for a binding contract, should the aforementioned claim be found to be true.
The summons partly read, “Whether upon careful examination and consideration of the agreements made between Kogi State Government and Dangote Industries Limited on the 30th day of July, 2022 and 14th day of February 2003 respectively, it is not apparent that consideration (an essential ingredient of a valid contract) is lacking”?
The state government also wants a declaration that Dangote Industries Limited can’t get any benefit, interest, or rights from the invalid contracts signed on July 30, 2002, and February 14, 2003, respectively, since it didn’t give the Kogi State Government anything in return.
Additionally, it requests that the agreements made on July 30, 2002, and February 14, 2003, respectively, be declared invalid for lack of consideration.
An order of perpetual injunction prohibiting Dangote Industries Limited, any of its agents, or assigns from using or otherwise benefiting from the agreements between the Kogi State Government and Dangote Industries Limited, dated July 30, 2002, and February 14, 2003, is another request made by the state government.
The secretary to the Kogi State Government, Mrs. Folashade Arike Ayoade stated in an affidavit in support of the originating summons that the Kogi State Government was the only entity that established the Obajana Cement Company in 1992.
As of the time this article was filed, a representative of Dangote Cement Plc’s corporate affairs department, Jibrin Abubakar has not returned calls or texts asking for his thoughts on the incident. The court hearing for the lawsuit has not yet been scheduled.
