Lekki-Ikoyi Toll Gate: Judge Orders LASG, Others to File Written Addresses

0 0
Spread the love
Read Time:2 Minute, 25 Second
A Federal High Court in Lagos Thursday ordered the Lagos State  Attorney General (AG) to address it on the claim that the federal government granted approval for the construction of the Lekki-Ikoyi bridge.
 
Justice Saliu Saidu gave the order at the resumed hearing of a suit filed by a Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, challenging the state government’s collection of tolls on the bridge.
 
The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) are joined as first and second respondents in the suit.
Also as third and fourth respondents in the suit are the Lagos State AG and the state government.
 
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Lagos State AG, Mr. Ade Ipaye, had in a counter-affidavit on November 25, averred that the state had paid for and obtained approval to construct the bridge.
 
Adegboruwa, however, informed the court that he had filed a further reply to the respondent's counter-affidavit, arguing that neither the federal nor the state government, had power to collect toll on the bridge.
 
The applicant added that although the respondent had argued that an approval was sought and obtained, such approval did not vest power in the state to impose tolls on motorists.
 
He, therefore, urged the court to adopt all processes filed by the respondents, in support of his originating summons.
 
The lawyer also sought leave of the court to re-adopt his arguments.
Justice Saidu, in a short ruling, ordered the applicant and all respondents, to file written addresses on the new facts raised in the third respondent's counter-affidavit, stating that it had obtained approval for the bridge.
 
The judge also ordered Mrs Queen Mba, counsel to NIWA, to file a reply to the third respondent's counter-affidavit.
 
He said failure to do so would be deemed an admission of facts deposed.
Saidu then adjourned the case to January 16, 2014 to enable parties file their addresses.
Adegboruwa had filed the suit on November 26, 2012, seeking an order of injunction, restraining the Lagos State Government from collecting any toll or tax in any form whatsoever, from motorists on the bridge.
 
The applicant also wants the court to determine whether the government has the power and authority to construct a bridge on the Lagos Lagoon and the Lekki Lagoon, which are both categorised by law as federal navigable waterways.
 
He also seeks a determination of court as to whether there exists any law in Nigeria, authorising the collection of such tolls, tax or fee from citizens.
 
Adegboruwa also wants the court to declare that imposition of such toll on road users and residents of Lekki Scheme 1, Ikoyi, Ajah, Ibeju-Lekki and Epe communities, amounts to a flagrant violation of their rights.
Happy
Happy
0 %
Sad
Sad
0 %
Excited
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
Angry
0 %
Surprise
Surprise
0 %

Facebook Comments

Previous post Imo Govt Faults EFCC Alleged Clearance of Agbaso
Next post Solomon Lar’s Body Arrives Nigeria Today

Average Rating

5 Star
0%
4 Star
0%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.