Traders drag council chairman, commissioner to court over alleged demolition of properties in Onitsha

By Cyprian Ebele, Onitsha

Traders on the platform of UBA Plank and Joist Association ltd, have dragged Onitsha South council chairman, Emeka Orji and the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to an Onitsha High court over alleged demolition of their properties in the state.

The traders, however urged the court to order the council chairman, Orji and the state attorney general and commissioner for justice to stop further demolition of their properties.

The plaintiffs, Emmanuel Obunso and Pius Okeke,
through their counsel, Barr. Clifford Okoye, in the suit No O/335/2023 and motion No O/464/2024, prayed for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants/respondents, their heirs, assigns, privies, agents, work men, cohorts, thugs, and or any persons acting or taking instructions from them from entering into, further entering into, marking for demolition or threats of demolishing of any property of the plaintiffs.

They prayed that the reliefs sought be granted them pending the determination of the substantive suit and for such order or any other or orders as the Honourable court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this case.

The second plaintiff, Obunso, has in his affidavit, stated that no notice of revocation of their rights of occupation or right to ownership of a personal property was ever served them by the defendants before carrying out the demolition exercise of 24th April 2023.

Also that the way and manner the defendants carried out their obnoxious action, they are poised to demolish more shops except restrained by the court.

The plaintiff in the affidavit added that the defendants have failed to file any paper in defence of this suit rather they are poised to take laws into their hands.