Ogbonnaya Ikokwu, Umuahia
Some traders at the Ariaria International Market, Aba, Abia State, have dragged the state government to court over plans to reconstruct shops and remodel the market.
The Chairman of the State Market Development Committee, Chief Solomon Nwaigwe, had directed traders at the Park 1 and Park 2 sections of the market to relocate to Aba Mega Mall to enable reconstruction works to commence at the area.
But in suit No. A/134/2016, the applicants; Deacon Michael Aniorji, Chief Ben Amaechi and seven others, for themselves and representing traders of Ariaria frontline, Park 1, Park 2, A-Line, C-Line zones of Ariaria market and the Incorporated Trustees of the National Association of Nigerian Traders, claimed that it was illegal for the defendants to demolish shops at the market and force the traders out of their shops contrary to the terms and agreements on the allocation without providing acceptable alternative for them.
The traders also sought an order restraining the defendants from demolishing their shops or act in any manner to force them out of their shops.
Others joined in the suit are the Chairman of the Abia State Market Development Committee, Chief Nwaigwe, and other members of the nine-man committee, Commissioner for Trade and Investment, the Governor of Abia State, Attorney General of Abia State, and TAF African Homes Ltd.
Justice K.O. Wosu of the State High Court had fixed July 6, 2016, for hearing of the motion on notice, but the court could not sit as a result of the holidays to mark the Eid-el Fitri celebration in the country.
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