What will be the outcome of FGN VS LASG on Ikoyi bridge suit?

Lekki-Ikoyi Suspension Bridge

By Olumide T. Agunbiade
 The Federal Government has told a Federal High Court that the Lagos State Government failed to obtain the approval of the National Inland Waterways Authority before it started constructing the Lekki-Ikoyi Suspension Bridge.

It alleged that by the construction of the bridge, the state government had encroached into the Lekki/Ikoyi Lagoon, which it claimed was under NIWA’s exclusive authority.

This was contained in the joint counter-affidavit filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation and NIWA in a suit instituted by a rights lawyer, Mr. Ebun Olu-Adegboruwa.

Justice Saliu Seidu on Monday fixed December 5 for hearing.

The judge had earlier on April 30 adjourned till July 9 for judgment, but along the line, the Federal Government, which had not participated in the proceedings, indicated its interest to file its defence in the suit.

Olu-Adegboruwa is, through the suit, challenging the construction and imposition of tolls on the users of the bridge.

The AGF and NIWA along with the Lagos State Government and the state Attorney-General are the respondents in the suit.

But both the AGF and NIWA, in their joint counter-affidavit dated, August 7, 2013, opposed all the contentions of the state government.

The federal agents maintained that the only “legal option” available to the state government was to seek written permission from NIWA to use the lagoon for the construction of the suspension bridge.

Meanwhile, the bridge had since been inaugurated on May 29, 2013, by the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, while the suit was still pending.