An Imo State High Court presided over by Hon. Justice Sabinus I. Opara, has restrained the State Government from demolishing, relocating or tampering with the Owerri Main Market (Ekeukwu Owerri Market), pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit, HOW/380/2016.

Other respondents are Rochas Okorocha, the State Governor; the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice; the Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Urban Planning.

Justice Opara, who was not particularly happy that the defendants were not represented in court, also said that there was proof that they were properly served with the court processes.

“There is proof that all the respondents were duly served as far back as August 31, 2016. There is however, nothing in the court’s file to show that the respondents have filed their response.”

Although, he said that he was minded by the provisions of the High Court Rules, Opara, however, said that the court was at liberty to adjust the time, in view of obvious threats to tamper with the subject matter.

While ordering that the status quo be maintained, the Judge directed that the State Attorney General should not only be served with the order of court, but must also appear in person for the next hearing of the case.

Addressing the court earlier, Ken C. O. Njemanze (SAN), counsel to Owerri indigenes, said “the plaintiffs were seeking an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants, their servants, officers and/or agents from, in whatever manner, demolishing, destroying, removing, relocating or interfering with the day to day running or operation of the Ekeukwu

Owerri Market, the subject matterof the suit.”

Continuing, Njemanze told the court that “there are imminent threats by the defendants to demolish, remove, relocate the said market and interfere with enjoyment by the claimants of the said market.” (independentnig.com)

•Photo showsGovernor Okorocha.