Court Stops Collection Of Toll On Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge

A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos today ordered the state government to stop collection of any toll or tariff on the Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge.

Ruling on the suit filed by human rights lawyer, Ebun Adegboruwa, presiding judge, Justice Saidu, J. held that the power of control over all navigable waterways in Nigeria resides in the Federal Government, and not any state government.

He held that from all the documents made available to the court, the only justification for the toll fee on the bridge by Lagos State is the private partnership law.

However, he noted that the law could not apply to the Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge since it was built with the money of the Lagos State Government, without the involvement of any private partnership.

“Thus, since there is no law supporting the toll fee, it is illegal and should be stopped forthwith”, Justice Saidu said.

In his reaction, the applicant Adegboruwa hailed the courage of the judge for giving a landmark ruling that will save poor citizens from paying the illegal toll.

“Coming a day after the same court nullified the imposition of new number plates, this judgment should be an elixir to all Nigerians to challenge in the court, all illegal taxes and arbitrary charges in the name of road tax, PHCN metre maintenance charge, estimate bills without electricity, and so on”, he said.