The legal battle over control of a disputed mining site in Endo Community, Nasarawa State, has taken a fresh turn as Lideal Mines Limited filed an appeal before the Court of Appeal in Makurdi, challenging an earlier ruling of the Federal High Court.
The dispute involves Lideal Mines Limited, the Nasarawa State Government and Ganfeng Lithium Industry Limited over mining rights in Endo Community located in Nasarawa Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
The appeal stems from a ruling delivered by the Federal High Court in Lafia on May 11, 2026, which issued interlocutory orders restraining all parties from accessing or conducting mining operations within disputed cadastral units in the area.
However, Lideal Mines, through its lead counsel, Martin Ojonimi Atojoko, argued that the lower court exceeded its authority by issuing orders that allegedly addressed issues still awaiting determination in the substantive suit.
According to court documents made available to journalists, the company described the ruling as a form of “judicial overreach,” arguing that it effectively legitimised executive actions whose legality remains under dispute.
In its Notice of Appeal, the company stated that the trial court prematurely made findings touching on constitutional questions central to the main case.
“The learned trial judge erred in law,” the company argued, stating that the court gave effect to executive actions despite unresolved questions surrounding constitutional authority over mining regulation.
Lideal Mines further argued that the ruling effectively prejudged the dispute before hearing the substantive issues.
The company also maintained that the Federal Government has exclusive constitutional authority over mineral resources under Item 39 of the Exclusive Legislative List and the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act of 2007.
The appeal forms part of a wider legal dispute already before the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Lideal Mines is challenging what it described as an unlawful suspension of its mining activities and alleged takeover of its operations.
The company is seeking ₦5 billion in damages against the Nasarawa State Government, the state Attorney-General and Ganfeng Lithium Industry Limited.
Court filings show that Lideal Mines is also contesting suspension and evacuation notices issued in February and March 2026, arguing that they violated constitutional provisions.
According to the firm, more than 160 armed security personnel, including officers of the Nigeria Police Force and other agencies, were allegedly deployed to enforce its removal from the disputed site.
Lideal Mines further claimed that its mining location at Cadastral Unit 3 in Endo Village was subsequently reassigned to Ganfeng Lithium, a move it described as unconstitutional and unlawful.
The company has now asked the appellate court to overturn the interlocutory ruling and halt further enforcement actions, insisting that the appeal raises significant constitutional and jurisdictional questions.
Meanwhile, the company has also filed a motion seeking a stay of execution of the May 11 ruling pending the outcome of the appeal.
The case continues to attract attention as debates intensify over regulatory powers, mining rights and the role of state governments in federally licensed mineral operations in Nigeria.
