Court orders Commissioner, others to stop harassing market leaders

Justice  Alexious Okuma of Atani High Court has directed the Anambra State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr. Christian Ngonadi and other officials of the Ministry to  stop harassing the Chairman of Ogbaru Main Market, Chief Ndubuisi  Ochiogu and the  members of his executives with security operatives.

Justice Okuma issued the order  Friday when the case brought by Ochiogu led executive against the Commissioner for Commerce  and Attorney-General of the State came up for hearing  at Onitsha High Court.

The directive came following the complaints by the counsel to the leadership of  Ogbaru Main market, Chief  Ben Uzuegbu (SAN ) that the order of the Court that  the status quo ante bellum should be maintained was not obeyed by  the Commissioner and his officials.

He stated  that they  have  been harassing his clients with invitation to the Police and Directorate of State Services (DSS).

The  Principal State Counsel, Loveline Ezude, who who appeared for the Commissioner and others however accused Ochiogu and his executives of using thugs to harass and intimidate traders in the market.

Justice Okuma in his directive said  there was no need for the inolvememt of the security operatives by the Government officials in a matter being handled by the court, noting  that Government as the father of all should always toe the line of civility in the discharge of their duties.

He warned that no trader in the Market should be harassed, touched or stopped from carrying out his/her  legitimate business. 

Justice Okuma also warned that he should not hear that the leadership of the market imposed any levy on the traders to collect money to pay Judge,  saying he would not hesitate to descend  heavily on anybody found  involved in such act.

He said if an  individual trader has a problem, the Commissioner or any other government official  don’t need to come into the matter, when he knows that the matter is in the court, rather such matter should be brought to the notice of the Court.

Speaking to newsmen, Chief Uzuegbu (SAN)  said  in a situation where an allegation was made that something happened in the market but  the Attorney General and Commissioner were not there  and the allegations were not against them, but individual problem, they  don’t suppose to come into the matter, when they knew that the traders  are in the court and there is an order of the Court that the status quo ante bellum be maintained.

He said until the matter is disposed off, the president and every other person will be  working  until the final order is made.

” We don’t know what will be the final order, it maybe in our favour, it may be against us , if it is against us, we go home or we appeal. We are not in stone age where whatever you want to do, you do  it or when you have a problem with your brother, you start using your mght. No. the new society is when you have a problem, report to an independent arbiter, which is the court” said the SAN.

Uzuegbu  said the Court will dispassionately look at the matter   ” if at the end of the day, the court  comes up with its decision, if you don’t accept the decision, there is  another court until you get to the supreme court, then you live it to God”.

He said, it is important for this Government that promised the people  rule of law and due process to live to its promises.

“They promised everything would be done through due process but with what is  happening, we are asking questions, were we deceived,when we were voting for this Government? It is only Abacha Government that was  known not to have obeyed  Court order. How can the Government of Prof. Soludo not obey Court order. When all of us kept vigil to make sure he is there. 

He is now  saying  I can do everything I want  because I am the Governor. So, it is really disturbing because it is like l am in a dream.I can’t understand, knowing Soludo’s antecedents. I feel that things should be done according to the rule of law going by what he said in the past.

I felt there won’t be any problems, but this case is an eye opener, showing us that politicians can be saying one thing and meant another. But let’s wait until we see the way the whole thing will pan out.

So far the judge has warned them to stop disturbing these traders until we return back on June 17, 2022.