An Owerri I ugh Court presided over by Mr. Jus1frc F. I. Duruoha Igwe has adjourned to 15th and 25th October for hearing a case filed before it by Chief Chidi Ejim and three others representing members of Mgbeke, Umunwagbora, Emeonye, Umulolo, Ofoha and Oparaocha families of Umuehieta village Avu autonomous community in the Owerri West: LGA against the commissioner for lands Imo state, the Attorney General. HRH, Eze B. N. Okere of Avu, Bar Chris Ahumibe, Major Gen Roland Ogbonna (Rtd) and the Imo state Commissioner of police, the defendants/ respondents over the Avu resettlement layout dispute.
During the hearing, counsel to the first and second respondents Mrs. E. C. Aguta raised certain issues and questions bordering on the relevance of the Commissioner for lands and the Attorney General to the matter noting that the duo do not have much stake, but the trial judge advised her to bring the matter through a motion to the court during the next hearing.
Arguing for himself Chris Ahumibe Esq. who is a defendant earlier wanted to speak from the bar, but was resisted by D. O. Agho Esq. the claimant/Applicants counsel who insisted that such a trench was unethical and which borders on conscience. However Justice Igwe over-ruled the defendant, Mr. Chris Ahumibe on the grounds that it was unfair for a lawyer who is standing in court as a defendant/respondent at the same time speak from the bar.
Ahumibe later informed the court of the relevance of some documents but was asked by the trial judge to appear with them in court at the next adjourned date.
It would be recalled that in year 2004, the then Imo Governor Chief Achike Udenwa approved the release of 11.3 he stares Hectares of land at Avu junction as compensation to Avu people whose lands were acquired by government for development purposes.
A committee was set up, comprising their royal father Barrister Chris Ahumibe, rtd Gen Ogbonna and others to ensure the allocation of the land to the families of Umuehieta village in the area.
Incidentally the Umuehieta village accused the committee of lopsidedness, injustice and favoritism alleging that the rightful owners were schemed out; they complained, wrote but were not heed by any one.
As a result, the concerned elders of the village opted for judicial option asking the court to rule that the lands be released to the rightful owners to share it among themselves.
