By Dada Ahmed in Lokoja.
Photo credit: LawCare Nigeria.
A Federal High Court Sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State has once again adjourned the disputed mining lease case between Okene Royal family and Dangote group, AICO, Cadastre Office and Ministry of Mining till September 25th 26th and 29th for accelerated hearing.
The trial Judge, Justice S. B Onuh, granted the application for adjournment, following the inability of counsel to 2nd and and 3rd defendants attend the court season on Tuesday.
Earlier, Mining Cadastre office had forwarded written application to the Court Registrar, notifying it of its inability to come to court.
This is contained in a letter entitled,”Application for adjournment in Suit no. FHC /Lkj CS/23/2017 between Prince Mahoud Sanni Atta and others and MICO and others”.
While giving his ruling ,the judge also suggested that the parties could consider option of out of court settlement for amicable resolution of the matter.
However , the counsel to plaintiffs, Mr.Joseph Akosu, who did not object to the advice, noted that it was not the plaintiffs that would initiate the move , but the defendants.
The representative and head of Onumah Atta Omidivi family, His Royal Highness , Mahmaod Sanni Atta lamented that the suite, as
instituted in 2017, is to determine who would continue to take royalty after the expiration of the 25 years old mining lease scheduled for 2033, which was claimed to have been illegally acquired .
He lamented that neither AICO nor Dangote Cement had obtained the consent of the family and Community Development Association before mining, adding that there was no indication that the companies want do so in accordance with law.
He said,”The land in Oguda, Okene Local government area consists of five axis: Agama , Ohudumi , Obu Atabi Chichi and Adagu areas.All consist of lime stone in commercial commercial quantity.”
However , the head of family of Onumah Atta Omadivi , His Royal Highness , Mahmud Sanni Atta, disclosed that the family had never objected to out of court settlement but that no one was coming to negotiate with them.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
