CrimeHighlightTrending Story

High Court Judge Threatens to Jail Minister of Mines Fayemi For Interfering With Court Process

266

[dropcap]A[/dropcap] federal Hight Court Judge has vowed to lock up Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr Kayode Fayemi, for interfering with court process in the mining dispute between BUA and Dangote group.

The federal Judge at the High Court in Benin,  said he was alarmed at the behaviour of  the minister and would use jail sentences to restore peace and some sense of semblance of civilization, according to court transcripts obtained by Per Second News.

In the suit N0. FHC/BCS/72016: BUA International Limited & ANOR VS HMMSD & 5 ORS, the court expressed its dissatisfaction over the conduct of the ministry of mines in meddling with the subject matter of the suit and threatened to commit the minister to prison if he does not desist from further interference with BUA’s mining rights.

The judge was infuriated that the minister through the ministry wrote a ‘Stop Work Order’ letter to the BUA group to stop mining at the contentious site, despite ongoing court process and a ‘status quo’ order issued by the court.

The ministry was accused of disrespecting the court by invading the mining site occupied by the BUA group with armed policemen in a bid to enforce its stop work order letter.

The judge enraged with the ministry’s action threatened that if by the next adjourned date the minister did not stop interfering with BUA group mining rights, the court would be minded to invoke its disciplinary power to stop the ministry.

The ruling Atta Omadivi Family of Okene in Kogi State,  also has accused the ministry of Mines under Fayemi of bias in the matter.  The family described the publication of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development bequeathing the contentious Mining Lease ML 2541 to Dangote Group as a ‘reflection of desperate, reckless, irresponsible and partisan conduct of the ministry’ which has continued to flout all court injunctions related to the contentious lease.

In a  letter from the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development with Reference number: MMSD/MID/OP/RS.71/1/ and addressed to BUA’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, the ministry ordered the BUA group to vacate the mining site.

The ministry has been accused of instigating cycle of harassment and clandestine moves to usurp the powers of the courts and disrupt operations at the mining site in clear disregard of existing court directives.

In court transcripts cited by Per Second News, Dangote’s group lawyers agreed on the need for parties not to interfere with the subject matter of the pending suit, corroborating our earlier report that the group in a document to the Nigeria Stock Exchange, NSE, dated 19th December, 2017, and signed by Dangote’s company secretary, Mahmud Kazaure, said that the disputes shall be resolved by the courts in accordance with their role under the constitution and laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The court adjourned dates in the suit to 30 and 31 January, 13, 14, 27 and 28 February and 14 March, 2018, while the court said the BUA group should be left to continue mining on the sites, pending hearing of the substantive suits.

 

 

Leave a comment

Related Articles

NNPC Ltd. Advocates Collaboration, Transparency in Global Energy Decarbonization

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has called for increased...

VP Shettima Unveils Community-Driven Strategy to Tackle Nigeria’s Nutrition Challenges

Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to addressing its growing...

Super Falcons to Face France in November Friendly

The Nigerian women’s national team, the Super Falcons, will face France in...

Just in: NAPPS offers released #Endbadgovernance minors scholarships

The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) has announced its...

Just in: Tinubu Decorates Acting Chief of Army Staff Oluyede as Lieutenant General

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday decorated the acting Chief of Army Staff,...

Just in: For umpteenth time, national power grid collapses

Nigeria’s national power grid experienced another collapse on Tuesday, losing power generation...

CONUA to FG: Settle out withheld salaries, allowances, third-party deductions

The Congress of University Academics (CONUA) has called on the federal government...

Tinubu’s N200bln intervention fund seeks to eradicate poverty in Nigeria – Gov. Sani

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has said that President Bola Tinubu...

Guardiola admits Manchester City’s struggle amid injury crisis

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that the club will struggle...

Pres.Tinubu Unveils Ambitious Plan to Revamp Nigeria’s Dilapidated Stadiums

The Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, has outlined...

Just in: 63-year-old Ekiti Chief Judge, Adeyeye, dies

Justice Oyewole Adeyeye, the Chief Judge of Ekiti State, has passed away....

Equatorial Guinea govt introduces CCTV in offices amid sextape scandal

Following sextape scandals, Equatorial Guinea’s Vice President, Teddy Nguema, has announced plans...

Election Day Showdown: Harris and Trump Hold Duelling Rallies as Polls Reach Dead Heat

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump held rival rallies on Monday, the final...

$26bln African Atlantic Gas Pipeline Project Gains Momentum

The federal government, in collaboration with the Economic Community of West African...

N1.3trn fraud: EFCC arrests, grills ex-Delta Gov. Okowa

A former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, has been apprehended by the...

Equatorial Guinea government official embroiled in sextape scandal

Mr. Baltasar Engonga, Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF)...

CAF ruling against Libya: Nigerian govt. promises to protect its citizens in Libya

Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to...

Polaris Bank wins “Best Mobile App” award at Digital Jurist Awards 2024

For its commitment to digital innovation and excellence, Polaris Bank has again...

Updated: After six years of injustice, Nigeria’s ex-Chief Justice, Onnoghen, finally gets justice

The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Monday, overturned the conviction of...

Flood sacks 4 Anambra council areas as Soludo activates 27 IDP camps

By Emmanuel Ndukuba, Awka Floods have devastated four local government areas in...