The Kogi State government is asking the court to intercede in its dispute with Dangote group and determine the rightful owner of Obajana cement plant.
To this end, the government of the North Central state has preferred a legal action against the Dangote Industries Limited at a Kogi State High Court, sitting in Lokoja over the controversial ownership of Obajana Cement Company, now Dangote Cement Plc.
In the suit filed by the Yahaya Bello led administration, the government wanted the court to determine whether upon careful examination and consideration of the agreements made between the government and Dangote Industries Limited on July 30, 2002, and February 14, 2003, respectively, it is not apparent that consideration (an essential ingredient of a valid contract) is lacking.
The government is also asking the court to determine whether in view of the clear lack of consideration (an essential ingredient of a valid contract), the agreements made between the government and Dangote Industries Limited on July 30, 2002 and February 14, 2003, respectively, are not null and void.
In the event that the above questions are answered in the affirmative, the government prayed the court to declare that the agreements made between the government and Dangote Industries Limited on July 30, 2002 and February 14, 2003, respectively, “lack consideration, which is an essential ingredient of a valid contract.”
The government is equally asking the court to declare that the clear lack of consideration in the agreement made between the Kogi State government and Dangote Industries Limited on July 30, 2002 and February 14, 2003, respectively, render both agreements null and void.
The government also brought is also seeking the following reliefs: “A declaration that Dangote Industries Limited cannot take any benefit, interest or rights from the incompetent agreements entered into on July 30, 2002 and February 14, 2003 respectively, having failed to furnish any consideration to the Kogi State government.
“An order nullifying the agreements entered into on July 30, 2002 and February 14, 2003 respectively, for lack of consideration.