Church Demolition: Court Fixes January 23 For Ruling

An Owerri high court has reserved January 23, 2025, for ruling on a case filed by the Incorporated Board of Trustees of the Rhema Life Ministry International and others over properties within the area now called Owerri Central Market area.

Justice Akobundu after listening to the lawyers over an interlocutory injunction seeking to throw out the case by the defendants said the court will rule over it on January 23rd and directed parties to maintain order.

The Incorporated Board of Trustees of Rhema Life Ministry International, Sunway Global Properties Nigeria Ltd, Zero-one Global Properties Ltd, Ekpereamaka Jessica Nwankwo, Nwankwo Emmanuel for on behalf of all the owners of lands within the Central Market layout Owerri had sued Owerri Central Market Complex Development and Investment Company Ltd, Donez Global Services Ltd, JoecJonny Joyson Enterprises Ltd, the Governor of Imo state, and the state Attorney General of Imo to court for encroachment of property.

The plaintiff counsel, Umeh Kalu (SAN) had narrated to the judge how officials of the Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA) invaded their properties and collapsed the fences without notice or remorse, adding that they are the valid owners.

According to them, they had been in possession of their properties for over ten years even as they received proper allocation from the state government backed with certificate of occupancy, only for the defendants to show up claiming ownership of their property.

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The plaintiff’s lead counsel, Kalu Umeh (SAN) told the court that the defendants despite court injunction had continued to effect their own structure.

Already, the court had ordered an interim injunction against Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State and five others from taking any further steps in the forceful demolition of the structures erected on the piece of land known as the central market layout Owerri Imo State.

The matter borders on forceful demolition and ejection seeks to determine the rightful owners of the land and structures erected on the piece of land known as Central Market Layout, Owerri.