Ownership claims by Kogi State Government and Management of Dangote Cement Plc to Africa largest multi Billion Naira Obajana Cement plant resulted in its abrupt shutdown on Wednesday October 5, 2022.
Sleeknews learnt that the host state, Kogi State which purportedly sold the Obajana cement factory more than a decade ago to Dangote Cement PLc has discovered that the agreement has faulty .
The state government claimed it realized after it received report of “Specialised Technical Committee on the Evaluation of the Legality of the Alleged Acquisition of Obajana Cement Company Plc by Dangote Cement Company Limited” that there was no considerations in the agreement .
Consequently, it declared the purported agreement null and void and shut the plant after several attempts to reach Dangote on the issue proved abortive, the state government claimed.
But the management of Dangote Cement Plc. on Friday firmly restated that the Obajana Cement plant in Kogi State is owned 100 per cent by it and that the invasion of the plant last Wednesday was illegal.
Dangote management said in the process of forcefully evicting it’s
workers, to enforce the illegal
shutdown, the vigilantes shot at 27
of the workers and also destroyed
some of the company’s property “on the orders of the state government.”
Dangote Cement Plc, in the statement signed by its Group Managing Director (GMD) Michel Puchercos and titled, “Illegal Shutdown of Dangote Cement,
Obajana Plant”, declared the firm’s full ownership of the Obajana
plant, while berating the attack on the plant.
Puchercos said: “The Management of Dangote Cement Plc. wishes to inform members of the public, especially its customers and other stakeholders of the recent invasion of its Obajana Cement Plant, Kogi State by armed vigilantes on the orders of the state government.
“The vigilantes, led by some officials of the State government were apparently acting on a resolution of the Kogi State House of Assembly on controversial
tax claims; claims that the state governor had also contradicted when he said the shutdown was due to an alleged invalid acquisition of the company .
Puchercos declared: “We have taken steps to get the hoodlums apprehended by the law enforcement agencies, and we will ensure that full legal action
is taken against them.
On Thursday, the Kogi State Government said it “has all the relevant documents to prove that the purported acquisition of Obajana by Dangote is null and void.”
Kogi State Government went further and presented a report of its “Specialized Technical Committee on the Evaluation
of the Legality of the Alleged Acquisition of Obajana Cement Company Plc by Dangote Cement Company Limited”, to the public and declared that ” the transfer of Obajana Cement to Dangote Cement was “invalid, null and void.”
The report, which was submitted to Governor Bello last month, was presented to the public by the Secretary to the Kogi State Government (SSG),
Mrs. Folashade Ayoade at the Government House in Lokoja.
Ayoade alleged that the transfer of Obajana to Dangote Industries Limited, was “invalid, null and void.”According to her, the Committee in view of its findings therefore recommended that Kogi State should take steps to recover Obajana Cement Company from the Dangote Group.
The Committee also recommended: “The Kogi State Government should take steps to recover all accrued dividends from profits made over the years,
including accrued interest on same.
“Kogi State Government should take steps to cancel the existing seven Certificates of Occupancy in the name of Dangote Cement Company.”
The SSG added, “Agreement between Kogi State Government
of Nigeria and Dangote Industries Limited, dated 30th July 2002, and supplemental agreement dated 14th February 2003, as contained in Exhibit 71 of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry
Report, purporting the transfer of Obajana Cement Company Plc to
Dangote Industries Limited, are all invalid, null and void.
“There is no evidence of consideration paid by Dangote Industries Limited to Kogi State Government from the alleged transfer of Obajana Cement Company Plc and no dividend was paid to the state from the profits realised from the inception of Dangote Cement Company Plc to date.
“By the assignment of the three certificates of occupancy, the title
in Obajana Cement Company Plc, still vests in Kogi State government
as the sole owner.”
Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Matthew Kolawole, noted that the acquisition of the Obajana Cement Company by Dangote was without the
resolution of the House of Assembly, which made the process
null and void.
“It is clear that you cannot sell a state government property of any form without the resolution of the Kogi State House of Assembly. All the transfer process of the share capital to Dangote from Obajana
by the previous administration was without any law backing it by the state House of Assembly,” Kolawole stated.
In his remarks, the governor said he took the bold step in line with his mandate to safeguard the lives and livelihood of the
people of Kogi State, including residents, and to ensure their wellbeing.
Bello said this was also coming on the heels of protests by the people of the state who felt they had been suppressed and marginalised by the Dangote
Group which he alleged was ripping them off.
A statement by Dangote Group said the vigilante group was led.by the state Director-General of Lands,Commissioner for Solid Minerals, and Senior Special
Assistant to the Governor on Security, Commodore Jerry Omodara (rtd).
“Others were Chairman of Kabba/Bunnu LGA, Chairman of Ijumu LGA and the State ALGON Chairman, Alhaji Taofeek; Senior Special Assistant on Job Creation, Mr. Dele Iselewa, and Chairman of Lokoja LGA, Alhaji Mohammed
Dansabe,” said the statement.