By Our Correspondent
Justice D.N. Onyefulu of Anambra State High Court sitting in Onitsha, has frowned at the report by the Counsel of UPJA Joist Association, BridgeHead, Mr. Clifford Ilogbune Okoye. that the chairman of Onitsha South Local Government Area , Mr Emeka Orji, flouted the order of the Court by marking some buildings in the market for demolition.
The leadership of the market had dragged Onitsha South Local Government Area and Anambra State Government to Court demanding a N700m compensation for unlawful domlition of their plaza which they claimed was built with all the necessary approvals from relevant government agencies.
The traders also demanded that a letter of apology be issued to them for the malicious and overzealous of agents of Anàmbra state Government.
But surprisely Orji came last Monday with his agents to mark some buildings for demolition now that he has been selected as the substantive chairman of the Local Government inspite of the court order.
When the matter came up for hearing on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, Counsel to the traders, Okoye drew the attention of the Court on the recent conduct of the Local Government Chairman, Mr.Orji, who on Monday went to the Market and was marking some structures which was built at the Market more than 30 years ago for destruction inspite of Court order restraining the parties to maintain status quo.
That is, he said, the traders should not build anything and the Local Government should not destroy anything.
He told news men: “Some structures are toilet facilities, some are boreholes and he is marking them for demolition.And we recalled that sometime in the month of June, court made an order restraining the parties,asking both parties to maintain status quo. But the marking of toilet facilities and shops for demolition is an act tantamount to violation of the court order and Court frowned seriously against that.
He continued :”If we confirm that where the defendant marked is within our property, we will do the needful and the needful is we will proceed against the defendant by issuing form 48, which is notice of disobedience to court order.I continue to tell people that Court is the last hope for the common man. I know if we begin to talk of people who take irrational action, I will say that traders in the Market are greater percentage, majority of people with different ideological indiosecrency and if they are matured to maitain peace, I espect the Onitsha South Local Government Chairman and Onitsha South Local Government to maintain peace. But if he chooses that he has power and being power drunk to flout the law, then we will use the instrumentality of law to deal with him because nobody is above the law” the lawyer said.
However, Counsel to Orji and the Local Government, TC Iken, who was in Court denied knowledge of the markings and promised to find out if the marking is within the area covered by the injunction.
Iken who is a director in the State Ministry of Justice said that he would talk to his clients if it is within the area, he would advise his clients to stay clear because they would not disobey the Court by allowing the status quo remain until the determination of the case.
The matter was adjourned to April 17,2025 for hearing.
