A high court sitting at Isuochi, in Abia state would on March 13, 2024, start hearing in a suit seeking to stop the state government from going ahead with its intention to remodel the Umuchieze Garki Cattle Market.
The government has equally decided to put a stop to the custom of cattle dealers and their households making their homes inside the market.
But the cattle dealers and occupants of the market have taken the government to Court over a caution notice served on them by the Town Planning Authority of Umunneochi Local Government, which is assured to commence the pulling down of residential structures inside the market.
The suit, No. HUM/9/2024 was filed by 12 persons, including Sarkin Zango, Hussaini Muhammad, and Buba Kedemure, the spokesperson of the group, for themselves and on behalf of cattle dealers and the occupants of the market.
In the interim, the court would decide on an application for an interlocutory injunction seeking to prevent the government from carrying out the Pulling down of residential houses within the market, pending the hearing and resolution of the case.
Reports say since October 2023, the cattle dealers have been in a disagreement with the Abia government after the government took a hard decision to reconstruct the cattle market and make it non-residential, due to security challenges.
Present as accused in the lawsuit include, 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.
