Asaba elders storm court over demolition

Some elders of Umuagu, a community in Asaba, Delta State on Tuesday stormed the state High Court to protest against what they described as the illegal demolition of a building belonging to a member of the opposition Democratic Peoples Party in the state.They asked the court, presided over by Justice Birikisi Okolosi, to join them as parties in the suit challenging the legality of the action.Gideon Nwaomu, the Chief Executive Officer of Giddys Place and a supporter of the DPP, had dragged the government to court shortly after the officials of the states Urban and Regional Planning Board marked his property for demolition.The elders were said to have resorted to the protest after their initial appeal to be joined in the suit hit the rocks.They accused the government of bias over the illegal manner it acquired and swiftly sand-fi lled the premises of the building and threatened to file a separate action to reclaim the land.But the government which stated that its action was carried out to return the state to the original plan and save it from further flooding, had directed the Delta State Task Force on Flood Control and Removal of Illegal Structures to demolish the structure.At the resumed hearing of the matter on Tueday, Okolosi admitted the motion for mandatory order of injunction to restore the claimant (Nwaomu).The court also granted the leave sought by Charles Ajuyah (SAN), the states Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, who appeared for the state government, to file a counter application.Counsel to Nwaomu, Mr. Peter Ogana, who led a team of other lawyers, told the court that the manner the state government flouted the court order, especially when the case was still pending before the court, showed a clear demonstration of disrespect for the rule of law.
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