The Lagos State Government has been taken to court by two groups, De Renaissance Patriots Foundation and Ibeju-Lekki Peoples Forum, seeking clarification on Alhaji Aliko Dangote’s claim that he paid $100m for land to build his $20bn refinery at the Lekki Free Trade Zone.
In July, Dangote stated that his company did not receive any incentives from the Federal Government or Lagos State for the project, but paid $100m for the land. The groups want to know if this claim is true and, if so, how the money was used and which account it was paid into.
The court motion, filed under the Freedom of Information Act, seeks an Order of Mandamus to compel the Lagos State Government to release the requested information. The respondents include Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Attorney General, Accountant General, Permanent Secretary of the Lands Bureau, and the Lagos State Government.
Lead counsel Yakubu Eleto stated that the people of Ibeju-Lekki have suffered neglect and want to know where the $100m payment went. The case is yet to be assigned to a judge but is expected to be heard on Tuesday, September 10, 2024.
