An Owerri High Court presided over by Justice K.A Ojiako has ordered that the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Commissioner of Police Imo State, Chris Ezike, Brigadier Commander 34 Artillery Brigade Obinze, Brigadier General H I Bature, Uju Kingsley, Ichie Best Mbanaso, Jeff Nwoha and Frank Onwumere must appear physically in court on December 5, 2017 to answer charges on contempt of court.
In a case of suit No/HOW/380/2016 instituted by some Elders from Owerri, Imo State they had prayed the court to stop the Governor of Imo State or any of his Aides from invading or demolishing their ancestral market, which was granted them through a court order asking for status quo on the said market.
However, on August 28, 2017, some Security Agents invaded and demolished the said market on the alleged order of the State Governor.
Following this development, Chief TOS Oparaugo, Chief Dennis Dike, Chief Hebert Mere, Chief Ifefuaku Anozie Emeto, Chief Cyril Ukaegbu, Oha Boniface Anukam, Oha Shedrack Obicheozo, Mrs Ijeoma Anokwu, Chief PC Nnawuchi, Chief John Mark Igwe, Mr Sam Oparaku, Sir Alfred Ngoka and Elder Henry Nkwopara dragged the Imo State Governor and others to court for comtempt of court.
In the hearing of the motion which came up at the High Court Owerri yesterday, the plantiffs were in court, with their Lawyers, but the Defendants did not show appearance or sent a counsel.
Ruling on the matter, the Judge, Hon Justice K A Ojiako averred that all processes, including the statutory forms showed that the contemnors were served, including through Newspaper publications.
The plantiffs were ready to continue the matter through their counsel, Ken Njemanze (SAN), and Nnawuchi (SAN) on the magnitude of the contempt, but the Judge adjourned the matter to give opportunity to the alleged Defendants and contemnors to be in court because of the seriousness and grave nature of the allegation against them which is that they violated court order not to demolish Ekeukwu Market.
The court then adjourned the matter to December 5, 2017 and ordered that the Defendants and alleged contemnors must be personally be present in court in the next adjourned date and that the order be published in the Newspaper and seemed to serve as notice to the Defendants and Contemnors.
