A Kogi State-based lawyer, Barrister Julius Elukpo, has instituted a suit against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, before the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, over the prolonged abandonment of the Abaji-Kotonkarfe-Lokoja-Okene road.
Barr. Elukpo also joined the Kogi State Federal Controller of Works and the Attorney General of the Federation as respondents in the suit.
The case stems from a letter Barrister Elukpo wrote to the Minister of Works on March 23, 2026, in which he demanded information on the status of the road project pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.
In the letter, Elukpo expressed regret over the hardship faced by motorists and other road users, and demanded that the Minister disclose the names and addresses of the contractors handling the project, the amount paid to them — including mobilization fees — and the percentage of work completed so far.
He further requested an explanation for why construction work on the road had stalled, and sought the court’s leave to sue the respondents over the matter.
When the case came up for mention for the first time before Justice Isah Dashen, it was adjourned to the 22nd of next month for further proceedings.
Speaking with journalists after the court session, Barrister Elukpo vowed to pursue the matter to its logical conclusion until the road project is completed. He decried the state of the road, noting that travellers now spend days navigating the route because of its poor condition and the continued neglect of the project.
