Segun Atanda/
A group of representatives of Igbologun Community on Snake Island, Lagos State, has rejected claims that Nigerdock Nigeria Plc owes host communities about ₦5 billion in unpaid royalties and compensation, insisting that key disputes over payments, community leadership and development obligations are already before the courts.
The community representatives — Alhaji Bolarinwa Kamoru Olalekan, Chief Adams Lateef Oluwo, Kekereogun Saheed and Yussuf Saliu Idowu — stated their position in a rejoinder responding to an earlier online report by Crime Focus titled, “Snake Island Communities Urge Marine Minister to Intervene Over Alleged ₦5 Billion Unpaid Royalties, Compensation Dispute.”
They described the earlier report as “materially inaccurate, misleading, one-sided and prejudicial,” arguing that it presented contested allegations in a manner that could give the impression that they had already been established.
According to them, the issues surrounding royalties, compensation and community development obligations involving Nigerdock are the subject of pending litigation in Suit No. ID/2029/98 before Justice S.S. Ogunsanya of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja Judicial Division.
They consequently cautioned against presenting the disputed claims as established facts while the court has yet to determine the issues.
“It is therefore misleading to present disputed claims as established facts when the Court is yet to pronounce on them,” the representatives said.
Community Leaders Challenge ₦5bn Claim
The representatives specifically disputed the alleged ₦5 billion indebtedness attributed to Nigerdock, saying they were unaware of any agreement, settlement, judgment or other legally enforceable instrument establishing such a liability.
They challenged those behind the allegation to produce documentary evidence showing how the figure was arrived at.
“We categorically state that we are unaware of any agreement, settlement, judgment or legally enforceable instrument establishing the alleged indebtedness of ₦5 billion,” they said.
They also rejected the portrayal of Nigerdock as a company that had consistently neglected its obligations to its host communities.
According to the rejoinder, various agreements had been reached between the company and community representatives over the years to resolve disputes, maintain peace and promote harmonious relations.
While acknowledging that there had occasionally been delays in meeting certain obligations, they maintained that such disagreements had been resolved through dialogue and peaceful negotiations.
Baaleship Tussle Also in Court
The representatives also challenged claims concerning the traditional leadership of Igbologun Community, particularly the recognition of Chief Moses Olayiwola Olaleye as Baale.
They said the question of who is the rightful Baale is itself the subject of another pending case, Suit No. ID/984/20000, also before Justice Ogunsanya.
According to them, Chief Adams Lateef Oluwo had earlier been nominated through what they described as the applicable customary process, with his nomination forwarded to the Lagos State Government for approval and completion of the installation process.
They alleged that the process was subsequently altered and another person installed, an action whose legality they said is now being challenged in court.
The rejoinder further alleged that Olaleye and members of his family had previously benefited from royalties and other monetary entitlements accruing to the community.
It claimed that the disagreement escalated after a demand that community funds be channelled exclusively through the family was rejected.
The representatives alleged that the dispute subsequently resulted in petitions, arrests and detention, prompting them to institute a fundamental rights enforcement action in Suit No. EPD/19121/MFHR/2025.
They further alleged that a Post No Debit restriction was at one point placed on a community bank account following proceedings initiated before a Magistrate Court in Ekiti State, despite the account being domiciled in Lagos. According to them, the restriction was later lifted following the service of a pre-action notice on the bank.
Representatives List Nigerdock Projects
Countering claims of inadequate development in the host communities, the representatives listed several projects and interventions they said Nigerdock had undertaken in conjunction with community leaders.
These included repairs of community roads and drainage, renovation of the Igbologun Eid prayer ground and town hall, provision of boreholes, repair of an electricity transformer and renovation of traditional shrines, including Awoga, Odo Ogbe and Oju Alale.
They maintained that it was therefore inaccurate to suggest that no meaningful development had taken place in the communities.
The signatories also rejected suggestions that those behind the earlier publication spoke for all Snake Island host communities.
They alleged that the position represented the views of “a few self-appointed individuals” rather than a collective community position.
The representatives called for caution in reporting the dispute because of the pending court cases and said they reserved their legal rights against anyone they believe publishes false or defamatory claims capable of prejudicing the proceedings or damaging their reputation.
The allegations and counter-allegations concerning the ₦5 billion claim, the traditional leadership dispute and the respective rights and obligations of the parties remain contested, with the community representatives maintaining that the substantive issues should ultimately be determined by the courts.
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