Dangote Should Pay Us N700 Billion Or Forget it-Ujila/Gbenda Families Cry Out

El Yakuq Ibraheem

Following the impasses over the trespassing of plot of land belonging to Ujila/Gbenda family in the Tunga community of Awe local government has said the land is not for sale, insisted that if the Dangote sugar company want to buy the land at the cost of N700 billion.

The families asked Nasarawa state high court  2 sitting in Lafia to stop the sugar company from further intrusion and exhuming dead bodies.

Saying land is not for sale but If Dangote insisted to buy, they are asking him to pay them nothing less than N700 Billion or should go elsewhere to look for land.

In the case file No. NSD/LF 122/2021 between Daniel Terver Imegba Ujila and two others suing for themselves and on behalf of Ujila/Gbenda Igbaa Akeen family versus  Aliko Dangote GCON and six others.

The plaintiff’s counsel maintained that the Nasarawa State government and Awe LGA have no right to acquire the land in question forcefully and give it to Dangote company.

The family also decried the demolition of the only public primary school built in the locality by the state government, he said: “That is why we are praying the court to restrain Dangote till the case is determined by the court.

Ujila/Gbenda family buttressed that Dangote sugar company has not compensated them, but rather ignored them completely, the family is accusing Aliko Dangote GCON of forcefully acquiring their land without compensation from the families.

While speaking to pressmen shortly after the case came up for hearing during the week, in his reaction shortly after the hearing of the case, counsel to the plaintiff, SA Akpehe, said he had filed a motion for an injunction to restrain Aliko Dangote and companies from further exhuming of bodies buried over 80 years ago as well as the destruction of economic trees and other valuables.

The counsel to Dangote and companies, GH Mohammed, told journalists that the defendants prayed the court to give them time because the date for the hearing was taken without the knowledge of the defendants.

“So today, we are appearing as a matter of respect for the court. We now ask for a date to file our own statement of defense and counter affidavit to their motion of the case filed,” counsel to the Dangote and Companies explained.

However, after hearing from both the plaintiffs’ and defendants’ counsel, the presiding judge, Justice Simon Aboki, said he will visit the disputed land in order to enable him to have perfect knowledge of the case for adjudication?

Justice Aboki, therefore, adjourned the case to March 16, 2022, for further hearing.