Fulani Cattle Dealers Drags Gov. Alex Otti To Court Over Plans to Demolish Houses Inside Market

TAn Abia State High Court sitting at Isuochi would on March 13, 2024, commence hearing in a suit seeking to stop the state government from going ahead with its plan to remodel the Umuchieze Garki Cattle Market.

The government has also decided to end the practice of cattle dealers and their families making their homes inside the market.

But the cattle dealers and residents of the market have dragged the government to Court following a warning notice served on them by the Town Planning Authority of Umunneochi Local Government, which is poised to commence the demolition of residential houses inside the market.

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The suit, No. HUM/9/2024 was filed by 12 persons, including Sarkin Zango, Hussaini Muhammad, and Buba Kedemure, the spokesman of the group, for themselves and on behalf of cattle dealers and the market residents.

In the interim, the court would decide on an application for an interlocutory injunction seeking to restrain the government from carrying out the demolition of residential houses inside the market, pending the hearing and determination of the case.

Since last October, the cattle dealers have been at loggerheads with the Abia government after the government took a firm decision to remodel the cattle market and make it non-residential, citing security issues.

Joined as defendants in the suit are the state Commissioner for Lands, Chaka Chukwumerije; Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna; Chairman of Umunneochi Local Government, Ndubuisi Ike, and the state Commissioner of Police.

Source: Vanguard