The High Court 4 of Niger state has assumed jurisdiction over the suit instituted by communities affected by the construction of Zungeru Dam against the National Hydro Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC) and two other Ministers.
The communities are demanding N1.5 billion compensation.
The presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Mohammed Thursday assumed jurisdiction over the case in a ruling on an application that sought to disqualify the state High Court from sitting over the matter filed by the counsel to the first defendant, Barrister A E Shi.
He argued in the application that the court as a state high court cannot sit over the matter and that the plaintiff’s claims didn’t disclose any cause of action against N-HYPPADEC. He also argued that the applicant is not a necessary party and ought not to have been joined in the suit.
However, in response to the application, counsels to the plaintiffs, Barrister YG Koroka, GB Ibrahim and AI Sidi argued that Niger state is one of the states that forms N-HYPPADEC and that the communities before the court are from Niger state.
He prayed the court to dismissed the application and award them two million naira cost.
Justice Mohammed Mohammed in a ruling held that, ” the complaints of the applicants are within the jurisdiction of this court against the defendant who is also by law resident in Niger state. “
