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Awards ₦5m damages to businessman
From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
An Enugu State High Court has settled a lengthy fight over a big piece of land in Independence Layout, Enugu. Justice C O Ajah ruled Hymac Real Limited as the true owner of Plot B/23C, over 6,000 square metres, in Suit No. E/658/2021.
Hymac won against the Enugu branches of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Barr Okey Ezugwu, and an unknown person.
The court said Hymac got the land legally from the Enugu State Government in 2021. It was first given to Rainbownet Limited in 2001, but that title was cancelled on 17 May 2017.
The defendants claimed they got parts of the land between 2010 and 2014. But the court ruled their titles didn’t count since Rainbownet’s claim still stood back then. Hymac’s lawyer, Sam Orji, said the defendants split the land without proper steps or revoking Rainbownet’s title under Enugu’s Town Planning Law.
“Subdivision is not the same as partitioning,” Orji stated. “It must go through the proper legal process and be signed off by the commissioner as subsidiary legislation.”
Justice Ajah agreed with Hymac, threw out the counter-claims, and gave Hymac ₦5 million in damages. Hymac’s Managing Director, Mr Okey Ayogu, praised the court and linked the win to Governor Peter Mbah’s fair policies. “This judgment is proof that Enugu is now safe for genuine investors,” Ayogu said.
“For three years, the judiciary was under pressure. But thanks to the current administration’s insistence on transparency and fairness, justice has finally been served.” He urged investors to tap into Enugu’s calm, business-friendly vibe.