Court Orders Imo Government to Halt Market Demolition

The Imo State High Court in Owerri has issued an interim injunction halting the demolition of structures at the Central Market Layout in Owerri. Judge I. C. Ibeawuchi granted the order on Thursday, preventing Governor Hope Uzodimma and five others from proceeding with the demolition.

The injunction bars the defendants from taking any further action to forcibly demolish the structures on the Central Market Layout land and from evicting the plaintiffs. It also prohibits additional construction of perimeter fencing around the plaintiffs’ structures until a hearing on the motion for an interlocutory injunction is held.

The court’s order reads: “An Order of Interim Injunction is granted, restraining the Defendants, their agents, servants, assigns, heirs, privies, or any other persons acting on their behalf, from taking any further steps towards the forceful demolition of the structures erected by the Plaintiffs on the Central Market Layout, Owerri, Imo State, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction filed by the Plaintiffs/Applicants.”

Counsel for the plaintiffs, Mr. Christian Nwadigo, noted that the plaintiffs include the Incorporated Board of Trustees of Rhema Life Ministry International, Sunway Global Properties Limited, Zero-one Global Properties Limited, Ekpereamaka Nwankwo, and Nwankwo Emmanuel, representing themselves and other landowners in the Central Market Layout.

The plaintiffs are seeking restoration of their property ownership and compensation for the demolished structures. Defendants in the case include the Owerri Central Market Complex Development and Investment Company Limited, Donez Global Services Limited, Joe Johnny Jayson Enterprises Limited, the Attorney General of Imo State, and the Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM).