Land Grabbing: Badan Enterprises Ltd  Drag Dangote Sugar Coy, NSG  To Court

Rabiu Omaku

Badan Enterprise Limited, the owner of 500 hectares of land, has dragged the trio of Dangote Sugar Company, Nasarawa State Government, and Awe Local Government to court over the nonpayment of compensation for his land ceded to Dangote Sugar Company by the immediate past administration under the headship of Umaru Tanko Al-Makura.

Black Peak Chamber, Council to the plaintiff in the suite at the State High Court 2 disclosed that the plaintiff is in court to challenge the Nasarawa State Government, Awe Local Government, and Dangote Sugar Company for refusal to pay compensation to the plaintiff’s 500 hectares of land he acquired with Certificate of Occupancy (CoO) since 1986.

In Suite No LSD/LA26/2019 before Justice Simon Aboki at the Nasarawa State High Court, 2 is accusing the State Government and Awe Local Government of not following due process in the acquisition and transfer of land title to Dangote Sugar Company with no proper payment of compensation to legal owners of the land.

The plaintiff, Badan Enterprise Limited (plaintiff) disclosed that all efforts to meet with the Dangote Sugar Company to seek compensation settlement were frustrated by some land racketeers and Awe Development Association, A social-cultural Organization, which were allegedly accused of collecting money from Dangote Sugar company to make compensation but diverted it to private pocket.

The plaintiff is praying the court to compel the Nasarawa State Government and Dangote Sugar Company to pay full compensation for the 500 hectares of land ceded to Dangote Sugar Company by the former occupant of Shendam Road Government House.

It was revealed “Nasarawa Sugar Company” Is a company that only exists on a page of the newspaper did not pay a diner to him (the plaintiff) Badan Enterprise Limited for the past six years.

The plaintiff is also challenging the defendants for not specifying the total number of hectares of land allocated to Dangote Sugar Company in any documents, noting that the acquisition is not for public purpose but private use.

The plaintiff expressed doubt over how some group known as Awe Development Association, self-imposed themselves to have custody and determine who and what should be paid as compensation to legal title holders affected by the acquisition.

The plaintiff who was dissatisfied with the process and procedure on compensation wrote to the Attorney General of the State, and Secretary to the State Government indicating he had title documents to the land and demanding compensation but all fell on deaf ears.

The Presiding Judge, Justice Simon Aboki after listening to the argument by both parties on an exhibit rejected way back due to lack of proper foundation and adjourned the matter to 11 February 2025 for ruling on whether the application will have its way.