From Raji Bello, Sokoto
A construction firm, Messrs Edile Construction Nig. Ltd, has sued Sokoto state government and the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, for alleged breached of contract to the tune of N5.7 billion.
The case filed before Justice Abubakar Muazu Lamido of State High Court was adjourned to May 14 for further hearing.
The Sokoto State government had earlier awarded a contract for the expansion of Usman Faruk Secretariat, Sokoto, to the constrcution firm at the cost of N5.7 billion. However, the contract was said to have been revoked months later.
In the earlier summons, counsel to the plaintiff, Mr. Lagalo Dan Lagalo Esq, maintained that the action taken by the 1st Defendant was malicious and done in bad faith, and not in accordance with clause 42 of the contractual agreement.
In view of this, Mr Lagalo prayed the court to determine whether the agreement dated 3rd June, 2013, freely entered into by the plaintiff and the Sokoto State government was valid, subsisting and/or binding on the parties.
Lagalo further sought an order declaring as null and void the revocation paper dated April 15, 2014, by which the 1st Defendant (Sokoto State government) purported to revoke, determine and/or terminate the contract awarded to the plaintiff, adding that “the said revocation was malicious and in bad faith.”
Consequently, counsel to the plaintiff, Lagalo asked the court for an order restraining Sokoto State government, their agents, servants or representatives from enforcing, implementing and/or giving effect to the purported revocation, as well as unjustly interfering with the progress of works done by Messrs.
Responding, Counsel to the defendants, Barrister Shu’aibu Lema Wali asked the court for more ajournment so that the defendants could adequately respond.
Justice Lamido therefore adjourned the suit and motion on notice, just as he directed the parties to respect the processes before the court pending the hearing of the substantive suit and the motion, as undertaken by the defendants counsel.
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