A High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, on Monday adjourned to September 16, 2019 for judgment in a matter between the State Government and building materials traders over alleged violation of their right to occupancy.

Traders at the Building Materials and Aluminum Market located along Afikpo Road, Abakaliki, had dragged the State Government to court over the latter’s alleged moves to demolish their shops.

The government had reportedly notified the traders to exit their shops as it had plans to reconstruct the market and give it a new look in compliance with its policy on urban renewal and development.

It had reportedly written letters to them through the office of the Commissioner for Special Projects, notifying them of its intention to procure the services of a construction company to commence the demolition of all shops in the market which would commence anytime from April 1.

But piqued by the move, the traders on April 3 dragged the Ebonyi Government before the Abakaliki High Court presided by Justice Vincent Nwancho, to obtain an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the State Government or its agents from disturbing them from using the shops pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The matter was instituted by Chigbogu Nwite in suit number HAB\43\2019 with other plaintiff being Fredrick Odanwu, Dennis Orsuahala, Benneth Nwosu, Chief Anosike P.E and Christian Okafor. They sued for themselves and on behalf of all the concerned members of the market. They are being represented by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Anthony Ani, and a team of other lawyers.

The State Government and the state Attorney General are the defendants.

The applicants in the suit alleged that the plots of land they are occupied were duly acquired from Abakaliki Local Government Council, some of the spaces bought while others are on lease up to 2030, 2040 and 2050, etc, but were said to be forcefully ejected by the State Government without due process.

The judge, who openly apologised to parties to the dispute for the inability of the court to deliver judgment on the matter, said that exigencies of the office and other official commitment affected the judgment delivery. He however, adjourned the judgment till September 16 due to non-readiness of the judgement.

Nwancho said: “I am unable to complete the written work on the judgment due to exigencies of office and other official commitment hence court will adjourn to Sept 16 for judgment.”

The judgment which was earlier fixed for July 10 was adjourned to July 29 for judgment but was further adjourned.

Update news