Federal High Court two sitting in Minna has adjourned the case between Niger State Government and Federal Ministry of Power and Others over payment of Ground Rent to twenty second May, twenty twenty four.
Justice Mohammed Aminu Dan Ige of the Federal High Court 2 sitting in Minna, Niger State adjourned hearing into the suit filed by the Niger State Internal Revenue Service against the Federal Ministry of Power.
Others in the suit No FHC/MIN/CS02/2024 are Nigerian Electricity Liability Management Company, Mainstream Energy Solutions Company Ltd and North-South Power Company Ltd as defendants.
Justice Dan Ige who ordered for the adjournment of hearing of the matter, ruled that the it was to enable both counsels to prepare the necessary applications of the case.
When the matter came up for hearing on Monday, the Counsel to the first and second defendants; Barrister Abdulmalik Usman Dauda filed a Motion on Notice challenging the jurisdiction of the court to which Counsel to the Niger state Internal Revenue Service, Aliyu Ibrahim Lemu SAN, requested for time to reply the motion on point of law.
Consequently, Justice Aminu Dan Ige adjourned the case to Wednesday twenty second of May this year for the continuation of hearing of the motion before the commencement of substantive case to which both counsels collectively agreed.
Speaking in an interview with Journalists after the court sitting, Aliyu Ibrahim Lemu SAN, stated that the court has to commence full hearing on the next adjourned date no matter the delay tactics by the legal teams of the defendants.
On his part, Barrister Abdulmalik Usman Dauda, Counsel to the defendants, stated that they were in court to challenge its Jurisdiction to entertain the case, through the Motion on Notice filed at the court.
He stated that the Federal High Court is a court of enumerated jurisdiction as provided by Section 251 of the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
The Niger State Internal Revenue Service through its legal team led by Mohammed Kudu Ndayako SAN and Aliyu Ibrahim Lemu SAN approached the court requesting it to compel the defendants to pay the sum of over N138 billion naira being the total Ground Rent liabilities owed Niger State Government by the three Hydro-electric Power plants in the State.
END ALIYU LAWAL.
