Accumulated Ground Rents: Niger Sues Three Hydro Power Stations for N136bn

Laleye Dipo in Minna

The Niger State Government has taken three Hydro Power Stations, namely Shiroro, Kainji and Jebba, to court for the payment of over N136 billion accumulated ground rent.

The rents were said to have accumulated between 2017 and 2022.

The suit was filed at a Federal High Court in Minna on behalf of the state government by the Niger State Board of Internal Revenue Service (NGSBIRS).The defendants in the suit are North South Power Company Limited (NSPC), Kainji Hydro Electric Plc (KHE) and Mainstream Energy Solutions (MES). Joined in the suit are the Federal Ministry of Power and the Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Company (NELMC).

In the statement of claim, the state government demanded the payment of N111, 725, 207, 100 ground rent from KHE and N21, 970, 920, 100 from Shiroro Hydro Electric Plc (SHE). 

It also prayed the court for “an order directing the defendants to pay to the plaintiff an interest on the judgment sum at the rate of 10 per cent per annum till the money is liquidated” in addition to asking the court to order the defendants to pay the cost of litigation as may be assessed.

Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Dan-Ige adjourned the matter to February 19, 2024, to enable service on the defendants.

It would be recalled that Governor Mohammad Umaru Bago had recently threatened to drag these institutions and others to court for their failure to pay taxes and other levies.