By Stephen Ojo
Minna
The Federal High Court sitting in Minna, Niger State has adjourned hearing on N136, 6 billion suit instituted by the Niger State Revenue Service against three power plants in Niger State to March 11, 2024.
In the matter filed by the Revenue Service, the Niger State Government, it is demanding for payment of outstanding ground rent since 2017.
In the first case involving the North-South Power Company Limited, the plaintiff’s Counsel Mohammed Ndayako, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, informed the Court that the third respondent Shiroro Hydro-Electric PLC was not in the Court while confirming the service of the court processes on them.
He also told the Court that, the first defendant in the case Federal Ministry of Power did not file any processes including a memorandum of appearance even though its Counsel was in the court while the Counsel to the fourth respondent filed out of time.
In the second case, involving Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited, Counsel to the Plaintiff, Niger State Internal Revenue Service, Aliyu Lemu (SAN) told the Court that the third respondent Kai’inji Hydro-Electric PLC was served with the Court processes as confirmed by the registry of the Court.
According to the statement of claim, the State Government is demanding N111, 725, 207, 100 ground rent payment from Kainji Hydro electric Plc and 21, 970, 920, 100 from Shiroro Hydro Electric Plc.
The counsels to the defendants however pleaded that the court to grant them adjournment to enable them put their house in order and regularise filing of court processes.
On that note, the Federal High Court Judge Justice Abdullahi Mohammed Dan-Ige adjourned the case to March 11, 2024 for further mention to enable parties in the matters to file and exchange Court processes.