Court Adjourns N140 Billion Ground Rent Suit Against Energy Companies
The Federal High Court 2 in Minna has adjourned a N140 billion ground rent suit filed against North-South Power Company Limited and Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited to March 11.
The suit, brought by the Niger State Internal Revenue Service in January, seeks to compel the companies to pay their outstanding ground rent, which has accumulated to about N140 billion between 2017 and 2022.
In the writ of summons, Shiroro Hydro Electric Plc, North-South Power Company Ltd, Kainji Hydro Electric Plc, Mainstream Energy Solutions, the Federal Ministry of Power, and Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Limited are listed as defendants.
The plaintiff’s counsel, Mohammed Ndayako (SAN), informed the court that Shiroro Hydro-Electric PLC, one of the defendants, was not present in court despite being served with the court processes.
Ndayako also noted that the first defendant, the Federal Ministry of Power, had not filed any process, including a memorandum of appearance, even though its counsel was present in court. Additionally, the counsel for the fourth respondent filed their responses out of time.
Similarly, Lemu Aliyu (SAN), Counsel to Mainstream Energy Solutions Ltd., informed the court that Kainji Hydro-Electric PLC, another defendant, had been served with the court processes as confirmed by the court’s registry.
Justice Abdullahi Dan-Ige, the presiding judge, adjourned the case to March 11, 2024, for further mention to allow all parties to file and exchange court processes.
PM News
