A former governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress in Lagos State, Funsho Doherty, had dragged the Attorney General of the Federation, Bureau of Public Procurement and HiTech Construction company before the court over open competitive bidding.

He alleged that the Federal Ministry of Works violated the Public Procurement Act 2007 by awarding the first two phases of the highway to Hitech Construction through a single-source procurement process, bypassing the required open competitive bidding.

Doherty is accusing the Federal Ministry of Works of unlawfully awarding the highway’s first two sections to Hitech Construction without adhering to Nigeria’s public procurement laws.

In his originating summons, Doherty argued that the ministry’s decision bypassed the open competitive bidding process mandated by the Public Procurement Act 2007.

He claimed that the construction began without the required Environmental Impact Assessment, which breaches the Environmental Impact Assessment Act 1992.

The plaintiff is asking the court for a declaration that the award of the first two sections of the Lagos- Calabar Coastal Highway Project by the Federal Ministry of Works to the third defendant without subjecting same to open competitive bidding was unlawful and void, being in breach of the Public Procurement Act 2007.

He also asked the court for a declaration that the commencement of construction of the Lagos- Calabar Coastal Highway Project without first undertaking an Environmental Impact Assessment was unlawful and a breach of the Environmental Impact Assessment Act, 1992.

He further sought a declaration that the Federal Ministry of Environment and the second defendant failed in their statutory duties of ensuring compliance with the Environmental Impact Assessment Act and the Public Procurement Act.

Doherty asked the court for an order setting aside the award of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project to the third defendant.

“An order of court restraining the Federal Ministry of Works and the third defendant, by themselves or through their agents, from further construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway until compliance with the Public Procurement Act and the Environmental Impact Assessment Act.

“An order of court directing the Federal Ministry of Works to subject all other sections of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project yet to be awarded to open competitive bidding as contemplated under the Public Procurement Act.”

When the case came up on Monday, the plaintiff’s counsel, D. D. Duru, informed the court that the matter was coming up for the first time.

He informed the court that the defendants had been served and had responded with counter-affidavits and a preliminary objection, making the matter ripe for hearing.

But the first and second defendants counsel, Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), who announced his appearance for both defendants, was opposed by Duru, for representing the second defendant, arguing that the second defendant’s separate counsel should appear as it is an independent institution.

Owonikoko, in his reply, said the process referred to by the plaintiff’s counsel was only brought to his notice on Monday.

“The process referred to by my learned friend was only brought to my notice today.

“I asked if the counsel who filed the processes was in court but it appears he was not,” he said.

Owonikoko then asked that the process filed by the second defendant should be struck out.

Duru, in his response, said,” It will be improper for the SAN, to say he was instructed to ask for the striking out of the second defendant’s application.

“It is either the lawyer who signed the processes that come to withdraw or the SAN files for change of counsel.”

The third defendant’s counsel, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okunsanya, sought an extension of time.

She said the application was filed on November 15, 2024, adding that the application was supported by an 11-paragraph affidavit.

Badejo- Okunsanya, moved the application in terms, which the court granted.

Justice A. O. Owoeye adjourned the case till January 14, 2025, to regularise the processes and scheduled the hearing for January 27, 2025.

The post Lawyers Engage In Heated Debate Over Proper Procedure For Withdrawing Or Changing Counsel In Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Case appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

In a press release on its website on Tuesday, the partnership deal between the UK and Nigeria is to promote trade and investment and open new prospects for both countries.

It also disclosed that it was designed to extend beyond finance and it can build upon an already productive $7 billion partnership between both countries.

According to the UK’s Department of Business and Trade, the two countries are set to sign a new partnership intended to enhance cooperation between both nations. 

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The deal was tagged The Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP), which would be the first time the UK would be signing this particular deal with an African country.

British Business and Trade Secretary, Kemi Badenoch disclosed that the agreement would open a lot of opportunities for the Brits as Nigeria is one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa.

“This partnership with Nigeria, the UK’s first with an African country, will allow us to work together and seize the opportunities that lie ahead. Nigeria has one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.

“UK businesses have already seen huge success here and I look forward to seeing how we continue to grow this relationship,” Kemi Badenoch added.

The deal will also see Nigeria commit to taking steps toward reducing barriers that keep UK attorneys from practicing international and foreign law in the West African state.

“It will see Nigeria commit to working towards removing barriers preventing UK lawyers from practicing international and foreign law in Nigeria, a step that could significantly increase UK legal services exports,” the release added.

Source: Vanguard

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