Kogi Ruling Family Takes On Dangote, Mines Minister Over Mining Infraction


The ruling Atta Omadivi Family of Okene in Kogi State has described the publication of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development bequeathing the contentious Mining Lease ML 2541 to Dangote Group as a ‘reflection of desperate, reckless, irresponsible and partisan conduct of the ministry’ which has continued to flout all court injunctions related to the contentious lease.

It would be recalled that the Executive Chairman/CEO of BUA Group, Abdulsamad Rabiu had petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari on December 4, 2017 in a letter titled “A Cry for Help: Wanton Abuse of Power by a Serving Minister Geared at Sabotaging Operations of BUA Cement,” affirming that the Ministry was taking sides with Dangote Group to claim ownership of the mining site ML2541 in Okpella, Edo State. The Ministry had replied in a statement signed by its Permanent Secretary, Mohammed Abass stating that Mining Lease ML 2541 in Okene, Kogi State belongs to Dangote Industries Limited and that BUA has been illegally mining the site.

A statement signed by Prince Mahmoud Atta on behalf of the Atta Family expressed disdain over the Ministry’s hasten conclusion in their publication stating that suit FHC/LK/CS/25/2017 between Alhaji Mohammed Otaru Adeika & Ors. Versus AICO Ado Ibrahim and Company Limited, Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel, The Mining Cadestre Office and Dangote Industries Plc pending in Federal High Court in Lokoja will determine who owns the contentious site.
Prince Atta wonders why the Ministry has special interest in Dangote to openly and illegally bequeath them ML2541 under contention in competent Court, describing the act as tantamount to contempt of the court.
Stressing that the court had ordered that no one can claim ownership of ML2541, Atta said neither Aico nor Dangote owns ML2541 as wrongly declared by the Ministry adding that the Mining Lease remains nontransferable until the suit is determined.

According to Atta, “The frequency of the publication is reflective of desperate, reckless, irresponsible and partisan conduct of the Ministry in clear violation, disregard and suppression of a subsisting court order dated June 15, 2017 in respect to the transfer, operations and ownership of the purported Mining Lease ML 2541.

“We hereby inform the general public that the existence, validity and ownership of ML2541 is a subject matter in suit No. FHC/LK/CS/25/2017 between Alhaji Mohammed Otaru Adeika & Ors. V. AICO Ado Ibrahim and Company Limited, Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel, The Mining Cadestre Office and Dangote Industries as defendants before Honourable Justice M. Sani of the Federal High Court, Lokoja Kogi State.

“We wish to state that the Honourable Minister of Mines and Steel Development the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry and Dangote Industries Plc are acting in violation of a subsisting order of injunction of the Federal High Court Lokoja, Kogi State restraining them by themselves servants agents assignees transferees or other third parties from parading themselves as the holders of ML2541 pending the determination of the substantive suit.

“For the purpose of clarity, we wish to restate again that the court was explicit in its order that no one can parade themselves as the holders of ML2541 pending the determination of the suit. As such, neither AICO nor Dangote can’t lay claim to the ownership of ML2541 as the ministry said in its offending publication. Neither is the Mining Lease transferable until the determination of the suit brought against them by our family.

“It is unfortunate this action and conduct is being perpetrated in a democratic dispensation that touts the rule of law. We have continued to insist that the purported transfer of ML2541 to Dangote Industries by Messrs AICO Ibrahim is in clear contravention of Nigerian Mining Act 2007 which the Ministry claims to be upholding in its publication.

“The publications by the Ministry seek to overreach the matter before the court and consequently we have instructed our solicitors to protect not only our interests but the sanctity of the court and the judicial process, which include bit not limited to commencing contempt proceedings against the parties in violation of the orders of the court”. The Statement added.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Billionaire Akanimo Udofia Responsible For Oil Man Igho Sanomi's Crashed Marriage

Image
How The Erstwhile Brothers-in-Law Became Enemies Over Infidelity-based Allegations The marriage between billionaire oil magnate and philanthropist, Igho Charles Sanomi, and his wife, Eghonghon, has crashed. Eghonghon has moved out of her matrimonial home with the four children from the union, and has even filed for a divorce. Predictably, Sanomi, whose world revolves around his family, is distraught and devastated by this downward turn of event. Never would he, or even, Eghonghon, have thought that the love they had been nurturing from their college days, would come to such an abrupt end. Sources disclosed to The ELITES that the marriage between Sanomi and Eghonghon crashed as a result of myriad of problems, which was completely beyond the couple’s control. Somehow, the news of their crashed marriage was only known to just the couple’s families and close friends. Tragically too, the blame for the Sanomis’ crashed union, is being leveled on Akanimo Udofia, the billionaire busi
Read more

Single Mother Temitope Adesegun Is Ooni Ogunwusi's Soon-To-Be Wife

Image
Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi has chosen his main heartthrob. And she is identified as “Tope Adesegun”. “The full name is actually Temitope Adesegun” a source disclosed. Light skinned and label a “beauty to behold”, the latest sweetheart of the leading monarch is said to have a two-year-old daughter. Details of the circumstances of the former life that transformed Tope into a single mother are sketchy. “But whatever she went through, it is obvious what she has going with the Ooni is far better” a source disclosed. Societynow.ng gathered that Tope pushes above heavy interests from quite a tidy number of other women to assume current status with the Ooni. Twice divorced – one before he became the Ooni – Oba Ogunwusi is “single” and has transformed the subject of intense wooing from women and family of all shades of colours. Source: Societynow
Read more

Oba Elegushi's New Wife, Hadiza Won't Live Under Same Roof With Olori Aramide

Image
Hadiza, the new wife of Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi would be living apart from first wife Olori Sekinat Aramide – for now. Sources confirmed that based on existing arrangement new wife Hadiza would be primarily based in Abuja with periodic visits to Lagos state. Young king Elegushi popularly known as King Gushi is the Elegushi of Ikate Land, which is one of the pieces of Lagos state. Sources disclosed that the reasons behind the strategy of King Gushi’s new wife, Hadiza opting to live apart from the first wife Seki are two folds. ‘’To protect her business and maintain the peace while the anger of the first wife cools off’’ societynow.ng learned. Olori Sekinat is said to have kicked very against Oba Elegushi’s marriage to Hadiza, the new Olori when she was informed. Sources disclosed Oba Elegushi had stayed well ahead of the consequence of his first wife’s anger -and strong opposition – by informing her of the plan to take a second wife when she could do little or nothing to st
Read more