An Abakaliki High Court, presided by Justice Vincent Nwankwo, has fixed July 29 for judgment in a suit filed by traders at the Abakaliki Regional Market against Ebonyi Government.
The traders are challenging the alleged unlawful process adopted by the state government in issuing revocation order to owners of stalls and buildings in the market
The court had at its last sitting on June 22 adjourned until July 10 for judgment in the matter.
Absence of the presiding judge, however, forced the parties in the dispute to pick a new date for the judgment.
Mr Clement Aiyamekhue, who represented Mr Anthony Ani (SAN) and lead counsel to the plaintiffs, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the expected judgment could not be delivered due to the absence of the presiding judge.
According to him, the clerk of the court informed the counsel representing parties in the dispute that the judge was unavoidably absent.
“We came for the judgment because the court at the last sitting in June adjourned until July 10 for judgment.
“Counsel to the parties in the dispute were just informed that the court will not be sitting due to the unavoidable absence of the judge and we have agreed on a new date and the court has graciously fixed July 29 for judgment,” Aiyamekhue said.
News Agency of Nigeria recalls that Mr Ikechukwu Nwobo, former Commissioner for Special Projects, had in a letter dated Feb. 13, directed traders at the building materials section of the regional market to vacate the market before March 25.
The traders, Messrs Chibogu Nwite, Fredrick Odanwu, Dennis Osuachala, Benedith Nwosu and others, who are plaintiffs in the matter, sued the Ebonyi Government on behalf of themselves and other concerned traders in the market.
According to the plaintiffs, the order violated their rights to occupancy of the said parcels or plots of land they are occupying after legally acquiring them from the Abakaliki Local Government Council.
