On Friday, the National Industrial Court sitting in Owerri, Imo State, restrained the state government from further demolishing the Owerri Central Market complex.
Justice I.C. Ibeawuchi, who gave the order, restrained the state government through their agents, or any other person acting on their behalf from taking any further steps on the demolition of the market.
Ibeawuchi also restricted the state government from ejection of the occupants of the properties with Form 48 (Order IX, Rule 13), Notice of Consequences of Disobedience to Order of Court as applied by the Plaintiffs.
He said: “I enjoin the parties to maintain peace on the ‘Res’ by refraining from embarking on any action that will foist on the Court a state of helplessness when it comes to determining the substantive suit.”
The case with suit number HOW/882/2024 was filed by the Incorporated Board of Trustees of Rhema Life Ministry International, Sunny Global Properties Nigeria Limited, Zero-One Global Properties Limited, Ekpereamaka Nwankwo and Nwankwo Emmanuel to challenge the state government’s claim on the ownership of the property.
