Irked by the manner, the Imo State Government is handling the N400m flood relief fund made available to theImoStategovernment to assist communities ravaged by last year’s natural disaster, Abacheke Community has headed to the High Court to stop the Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha from making use of the money.
Led by a legal practitioner, Israel Onyeoyibo, the community dragged the State Governor, State Government and Attorney General of the state to a High Court in the Oguta Judical Division holding at Oguta. The people are asking for an order of the court dissolving the committee set up by the Imo State Government without a representative of Abacheke Community.
The community is seeking a declaration of the court that the committee has no right to share or distribute relief materials meant for flood victims without verifying the extent of the devastation in each community and an order of the court mandating the Imo State government to hand over the share of the relief fund from the Federal Government or any other group or individual to Egbema people through the committee set up by the Ezes of the various autonomous communities of Egbema led by HRH Eze Iwuogu, the Ezemma of Mmahu.
Finally, the community requests an injunction restraining the government or the committee formed by the government ofImoStatefor the sharing of relief funds and materials from operating or sharing or distributing any fund, food material, or any other property meant for flood victims of Egbema pending the determination of the suit.
In his statement of claim, Barr Onyeoyibo disclosed that sometimes in September, October and November 2012, great flood disaster ravaged the riverine areas bordering Urashi River, River Niger and their tributaries thereby causing extensive damage to houses, crops, farms, economic trees and fish pond and Abacheke Community was the worst hit with over 150 houses submerged and farmlands destroyed.
The counsel regretted that state government committee was set up without any Abacheke Egbema person.
