By CHARLES IWUOHA

An Enugu State High Court has granted an ex parte order restraining the state government from demolishing properties belonging to Ifesinachi Transport Limited locate at the Ogige Market, Nsukka.

News Express had reported that the state government recently issued a 72-hour demolition notice to shop owners to vacate the Ogige Market and Nsukka Motor Park.

The planned demolition was vehemently resisted by stakeholders, who are worried over the economic crisis it may impose on the citizens.

However, Ifesinachi Transport Company Nigeria Limited and Ifeanyi Mama, representing the family of the late Igwe Ogbonna Mama have dragged the matter to the state High Court, seeking to halt the exercise.

The court, presided over by Hon. Justice H.U. Ezugwu, has granted the order, stopping the government and its agents from carrying out the demolition exercise.

The suit has the state Attorney General, Nsukka Central Town Planning Authority, and the Commissioner, Enugu State Ministry of Transport as respondents.

The Court, in its pronouncement in the suit, NO. N/30M/20234, granted the order of Interim injunction restraining from interfering with the properties mentioned in the suite until the Motion on Notice on the matter is heard.

It barred the “defendants, by themselves, their servants, agents, privies, anybody acting or purporting to act on their behalf, from entering, demolishing or interfering with the plaintiffs properties known as No SIA Enugu Road, Nsukka, Enugu State Plots 5IB & 5IC Enugu Road, Nsukka, Enugu State also known as Ifesinachi Transport Company Park, Nsukka pending the hearing and determination of the motion on Notice.”