Firm sues Dangote Sugar, Nasarawa govt over land compensation

Badan Enterprises Ltd, owner of 500 acres of land, has dragged Dangote Sugar Company, the Nasarawa State government, and Awe Local Government Area to court over non-payment of compensation for land ceded to Dangote Sugar Company.

Black Peak Chamber, counsel to the plaintiff in the suit at the State High Court, disclosed that the plaintiff is in court to challenge the Nasarawa State Government, Awe Local Government, and Dangote Sugar Company for their refusal to pay compensation for the plaintiff’s 500 acres of land, which he acquired with a Certificate of Occupancy since 1986.

Suit No. LSD/LA26/2019, before Justice Simon Aboki at the Nasarawa State High Court, accuses the state government and Awe Local Government Area of not following due process in the acquisition and transfer of the land title to Dangote Sugar Company without proper payment of compensation to the legal owner of the land.

The plaintiff, Badan Enterprises Ltd, disclosed that all efforts to meet with Dangote Sugar Company to seek settlement on compensation were frustrated by land racketeers who allegedly collected money from Dangote Sugar Company for compensation but diverted it to private pockets.

The plaintiff is praying the court to compel the Nasarawa State Government and Dangote Sugar Company to pay full compensation for the 500 acres of land ceded to Dangote Sugar Company, for which no payment has been made in 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 the manner in which a group known as the Awe Development Association imposed itself as custodian and arbitrator in determining who and what should be paid as compensation to legal title holders affected by the acquisition.

The plaintiff, dissatisfied with the process and procedures for compensation, wrote to the Attorney General of the state and the Secretary to the State Government, indicating ownership of the title documents to the land and demanding compensation. However, all efforts were ignored.