Kano-based quarry company sues PCACC, demands damages for forced closure
A Kano-based private company, A. A. Y. Quarry Limited, has approached the Federal High Court sitting in Kano to declare that Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) lacks the power to seal its premises and disrupt its quarrying activities.
The company, in an originating summons dated the 5th day of May, 2022 asked the court to order PCACC to pay special damages to repair and replace its starter and breaker; to repair and replace its bowl liner and mantle of the corn of a crusher; to replace the brass-forming part of the crusher; to repair and replace switch, circuit breaker of a panel; and replacement of corn coolant of the crusher.
All of the above amounted to N15, 500, 000:00. The plaintiff said they were destroyed as a result of PCACC’s forceful shutting down of its equipment on the 31st day of March, 2022.
The plaintiff was also seeking general damages to the tune of N20 million against the PCACC and other defendants in the matter, including the chairman of the commission, the commission’s director of operation, Nigeria’s minister of mines and steel development, and one Adda’u Shittu.
It also prayed for a daily payment of damages to the tune of N2 million from the 1st day of April till the final determination of the suit.
One of the lawyers to the plaintiff, M. I. Musa, who spoke with Nigerian Sketch on telephone, explained that PCACC forcefully disrupted the business activities of plaintiff and sealed its premises without a court order over a matter he said does not fall within the mandate of the commission.
He said the commission came the plaintiff’s premises with a sizeable number of security operatives and arrested its officials after vandalizing some equipment and sealing off the place.
“We believe they have crossed the borderline. That’s why we filed this action against them. It is only the law that we have to remedy this kind of wrong that they have perpetrated on our clients,” he said.
The court has fixed June 21, 2022 for mention.
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