The Federal High Court 2, Minna, on Monday adjourned a N140 billion ground rent suit filed against North-South Power Company Limited and the Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited, to March 11.
DAILY POST reports that the suit was instituted by Niger State Internal Revenue Service in January.
The state government is asking the court to compel the companies to pay their outstanding ground rent of about N140 billion, which accumulated between 2017 and 2022.
In the writ of summons, the revenue service listed Shiroro Hydro Electric Plc, North South Power Company Ltd, and Kainji Hydro Electric Plc, Mainstream Energy Solutions as defendants.
Also listed as defendants were the Federal Ministry of Power and Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Limited.
The plaintiff’s counsel, Mohammed Ndayako, told the court that the third respondent, Shiroro Hydro-Electric PLC, was not in court despite being served the court processes.
He also said the first defendant, the Federal Ministry of Power, did not file any process including a memorandum of appearance even though its counsel was in court, adding that the counsel to the fourth respondent filed his responses out of time.
Similarly, Counsel to Mainstream Energy Solutions Ltd, Lemu Aliyu told the court that the third respondent Kainji Hydro-Electric PLC, was served with the processes as confirmed by the court’s registry.
The Judge, Justice Abdullahi Dan-Ige, adjourned the case to March 11, 2024 for further mention, to enable all parties in the matters to file and exchange court processes.
Court to hear N140bn suit against power generating companies March 11
