By Abel Leonard, Lafia
The Ujila/Gbenda Igba Akeen family from Tunga District in Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State petitioned the Nasarawa State High Court 2 sitting in Lafia to restrain GCON and the companies Aliko Dangote to further destroy the family ancestry graves.
In case No. NSD/LF 122/2021 between Daniel Terver Imegba Ujila and two other people suing on their own behalf and on behalf of the Ujila/ Gbenda Igbaa Akeen family against Aliko Dangote GCON and six other people, the family accuses Aliko Dangote GCON for forcibly acquiring their land without compensation.
Speaking to reporters shortly after the case was heard on Monday, the plaintiff’s lawyer, SA Akpehe, said he had filed for an injunction to stop Aliko Dangote and Companies from continuing with the exhumation of the bodies buried more than 80 years ago, the destruction of economic assets trees and other valuables after demolishing the only public primary school built in the locality by the government.
He said: “That is why we are asking the court to restrain Dangote until the case is decided by the court. Dangote did not compensate for them, but rather completely ignored them.
“Therefore, we say that said land is not for sale. If Dangote insisted on buying, we ask him to pay us no less than 700 billion naira
Plaintiffs’ attorney argued that the Nasarawa State Government and Awe LGA had no right to forcibly acquire the land in question and give it to Dangote Companies.
In his reaction shortly after the hearing of the case, the lawyer for Dangote and GH Mohammed companies, told reporters that the defendants had begged the court to give them time as the date for the hearing had been set. without the knowledge of the defendants.
“So today we are appearing out of respect for the court. We are now requesting a date to file our own defense and counter affidavit to their motion of the filed case,” Dangote and Companies’ attorney explained.
However, after hearing the plaintiffs’ and defendants’ lawyers, the president of the court, judge Simon Aboki, declared that he would visit the disputed land in order to allow him to have a perfect knowledge of the case for judgment.
Judge Aboki therefore adjourned the case to March 16, 2022 for a new hearing.
