High Court Bars Hypercity and Lawmaker from Oginigba Land Amid Dispute
A high court sitting in Port Harcourt has issued an interim order prohibiting Hypercity Retail Limited and federal lawmaker Kingsley Chinda from entering the Oginigba land that is at the center of a contentious market dispute.
The ruling comes as a result of a suit brought by eleven indigenes of Oginigba, including notable figures such as Henry Amadi, Chimezie Chidimati, Stanley Dike, Elder George Ariolu, and Harold Echeonwu. They filed the complaint against several defendants, including the Attorney General of Rivers State and the Rivers State Ministry of Lands and Survey.
In the order delivered by Justice G.O. Ollor, the court restrained the defendants from taking any action on the land, either personally or through their agents, pending the determination of the motion on notice. This ruling aims to maintain the status quo while the legal proceedings unfold.
The decision has significant implications for the disputed market area, as both Hypercity and the lawmaker are now barred from entering the land until further notice. The case highlights ongoing tensions regarding land usage and governance in the region, drawing attention from community members and stakeholders alike. Further developments are expected as the motion progresses through the court system.