September 8, 2024
By Okafor Joseph

The Lagos State Government has been taken to the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, over a controversial land deal involving Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, and the Dangote Refinery located in Ibeju-Lekki. The lawsuit seeks to uncover the truth behind Dangote’s claim that he paid $100 million to the Lagos State Government for the land on which his refinery was built, despite previous claims that the land was given to him for free.

The Applicants, De Renaissance Patriots Foundation and Ibeju-Lekki Peoples Forum, have requested that the court compel the Lagos State Government to disclose whether Dangote’s assertion of paying $100 million is factual or erroneous. They argue that the public has a right to know the details of such a significant financial transaction, especially when it concerns land belonging to a community that has allegedly been neglected and denied compensation.

If the court verifies Dangote’s claim, the Applicants are demanding a comprehensive breakdown of the transaction, questioning why no public disclosure was made regarding this large sum of money. They further seek answers on how the payment, if made, was handled and why the affected Ibeju-Lekki community has not benefited from any part of the funds.

The lawsuit was brought under Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), along with several sections of the Freedom of Information Act 2011. It aims to enforce transparency and accountability in the handling of public funds.

Filing of the Motion

The motion, filed with Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1603/2024, was submitted to the court on Friday, September 6, 2024, by the Applicants, joining Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Lagos State Attorney General, the Accountant General of Lagos State, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Lands Bureau, and the Lagos State Government as the 1st to 5th Respondents. The Applicants have requested an Order of Mandamus, compelling the Lagos State Government to release detailed information regarding the alleged $100 million payment.

Reaction from the Applicants’ Legal Team

Barrister Yakubu Eleto Esq., the lead counsel representing the Applicants, expressed deep concern over the neglect and suffering endured by the people of Ibeju-Lekki. Speaking shortly after filing the motion, Eleto accused the Lagos State Government of withholding information critical to the community’s welfare.

He recalled that in 2015, during Babatunde Raji Fashola’s tenure as governor, the public was assured that Dangote was granted land in Ibeju-Lekki for free as part of a plan to boost the state’s economy. This narrative, according to Eleto, was used to pacify the community. However, he noted that Dangote recently contradicted these claims, stating that he had paid $100 million for the land.

“The people of Ibeju-Lekki have been suffering for nine years without compensation for the land taken from them for the refinery,” Eleto said. “Now they are hearing that $100 million was paid for this land, and the money is unaccounted for.”

He further emphasized the hardship faced by the local residents, who continue to struggle without proper access to basic amenities, while a massive refinery operates on their ancestral land. The Applicants are demanding that the Lagos State Government reveal where the money went and how it was used.

Seeking Justice for the Community

The case, which centers on the lack of transparency in the land deal, could have significant implications for the governance of public resources in Lagos State. The court’s ruling is expected to bring clarity to the circumstances surrounding the alleged payment and may compel the state government to address long-standing grievances from the Ibeju-Lekki community.

The Applicants’ goal is to ensure that the people of Ibeju-Lekki receive the compensation they deserve and that the $100 million, if indeed paid, is properly accounted for and utilized in a way that benefits the local population. The court proceedings are anticipated to shed light on the truth behind this controversial land deal and hold those responsible accountable.