Angered over the destruction of the company’s building and properties, Ise of Mbaise Industries Limited has dragged the Imo State Government, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, the Attorney General of the state, the SSA to the Governor on Security, Mr Okey Okorocha and the SA to the Governor on Security Matters, Owerri Zone, Mr Fidelis Ugochukwu Onyeukwu to an Owerri High Court over the destruction of the company.
In the Suit Number HOW/804/2012, the claimant is claiming jointly and severally from the claimants the sum of One Billion naira as special, general, exemplary and as aggravated damages for trespass, specifically for the looses and damages.
According to the claimant, this is the compensation for the losses and damages suffered by it from the invasion, destruction, vandalization, looting and demolition of its premises at Eziala Enyiogugu in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State on the 10th day of November 2012.
The claimant claimed that whereas the first defendant is the Governor of Imo State, the second defendant is the Chief Law Officer of the state while the third and fourth defendants are security aides to the first defendant and the persons who physically led the illegal operation that resulted in the demolition of its company’s premises, looting and vandalization of the properties on November 10, 2012.
According to the claims, the Company ceased production for the past twelve years because of the difficulties of procuring raw materials and its high cost, but retained two Hausa Security guards to protect the premises and its property.
However, sometime in September 2011, security agencies in the state tracked down and arrested two suspected kidnappers in one of the stores within the company premises who were accordingly arrested and taken away by the security men.
Consequently in the course of investigation of the kidnap incident, one of the shareholders of the company, Eze Cosmas Onyeneke was invited and questioned by the SSS as the natural shareholders of the company since others are organizations.
However, investigations by the SSS reportedly proved that Eze Onyeneke had no knowledge of the alleged kidnap incident in the factory even as the accused persons denied knowing Eze Onyeneke stating that they gained entry into the premises through one of the security men’s brother.
The claimant is however, surprised that the defendants rather than pursue the kidnap case legally in court since the suspects are identified, they now directed their attention and action against Eze Onyeneke who is only but a shareholder in the company.
“Eze Cosmas Onyeneke is only a minority shareholder in the claimant company, and is legally distinct from the company. Any differences between Eze Cosmas Onyeneke and the Defendants, whether on real or imagined grounds cannot be visited on the claimant company”, the writ of summon stated.
He added that the defendants had earlier threatened to destroy the claimants company premises which resulted in the claimants file of interlocutory injunction to restrain them from carrying out the threat action.
