Funso Doherty, a former Lagos State gubernatorial candidate, has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Government, the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), and Hitech Construction.
The legal action concerns alleged violations in the awarding and commencement of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project.
In a statement dated August 30, 2024, and shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Doherty raised concerns about the legality of the contract, asserting that it contravenes both the Public Procurement Act and the Environmental Assessment Act.
He argued that these violations pose significant risks to life and property, as well as the stability of the region’s economic and political institutions.
Doherty’s lawsuit challenges the Federal Ministry of Works’ decision to award the first two sections of the highway project to Hitech Construction.
He claims that the project was not subjected to an open competitive bidding process, a requirement under the Public Procurement Act of 2007.
Additionally, he asserts that the project’s commencement without a proper Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) breaches the Environmental Impact Assessment Act of 1992.
The lawsuit also contends that the Federal Ministry of Environment and the BPP failed in their legal obligations to ensure compliance with these crucial regulations.
As part of the legal proceedings, Doherty is seeking several remedies:
1. Nullification of the Contract: He is requesting the court to declare the award of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project to Hitech Construction as unlawful and void.
2. Injunction to Halt Construction: Doherty seeks an injunction to stop any further construction on the project until full compliance with the relevant laws is ensured.
3. Competitive Bidding for Remaining Sections: He is also calling for the remaining sections of the highway project, which have not yet been awarded, to be subjected to open competitive bidding as required by law.
Doherty’s legal action follows the issuance of pre-action notices to the relevant government bodies, a mandatory step before initiating a lawsuit.
