Group Protests In Abuja As Africa’s Richest Man, Dangote Battles Kogi Government Over Ownership Of Obajana Cement Factory

A group called Mass Action Against Corruption, on Tuesday, staged a protest in Abuja over the dispute between the Kogi State Government (KGSG) and the Dangote Group over the ownership of Dangote Cement Plc.

The Presidency had intervened to restore order over the struggle for ownership of the Dangote Cement factory in Obajana, Kogi State, between the state government and Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote.

The standoff has resulted in the closure of the factory by vigilantes acting on the orders of the Kogi State government, over an alleged breach of tax.

In a meeting brokered by the Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Presidency ordered the reopening of the factory facilities to workers while efforts continue to resolved the misunderstanding between the two parties.

The meeting held at the instance of the federal government was attended by the President of the Dangote Group, Dangote, Governors Yahaya Bello (Kogi) and Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa).

However, the group gathered at Unity Fountain on Tuesday and displayed placards, saying, "Who stole Obajana Cement Company," "On Accountability in Obajana," "We say no to Dangote - Gate in Kogi," and many more.

The group accused the company of economic exploitation and terrorism against innocent Nigerians in Kogi.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Cecilia Ikechukwu said "Alhaji Aliko Dangote fraudulently acquired Obajana Cement Company without any evidence of payment for the said 90% of shares from the state government."

"The recent revelation that all of these contractual obligations were not met by Dangote Industries Limited, yet claimed full ownership of the Obajana Cement Company, can be described as the greatest fraud of the century," Ikechukwu added.

Ikechukwu further said, "The Technical Committee set up by the state government to unravel the ownership of the Obajana Cement Company highlighted this much. And the findings were mind-boggling. It must be noted that the mining certificate for Obajana Cement Company belongs to the Kogi State government. There is no evidence that the Kogi State government transferred ownership of the mining sites to Dangote Industries.

"There is also no evidence that for the alleged 90% transfer of shares of Obajana Cement to Dangote Industries, there was any form of payment to the state government for the alleged acquisition.

"The only known contribution of Dangote Industries to the Obajana Cement was sourcing funding for the project using documents belonging to the Kogi State government. It is, therefore, our considered opinion that it was indeed a case of fraudulent acquisition, and it must be reversed immediately.”

The group, therefore, called on the Federal Government to stand with the "state in this clear case of fraudulent acquisition of a state government property and the attendant exploitation over several years".

Group Protests In Abuja As Africa’s Richest Man, Dangote Battles Kogi Government Over Ownership Of Obajana Cement Factory | Sahara Reporters