A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos State has nullified the collection of any toll or tariff on the Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge. Ruling on the suit, which was 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. Responding to the ruling, Adegboruwa commended the courage of the judge, especially against the background of the impunity that citizens are being subjected to all over country.
“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.