From Geoffrey Anyanwu, Enugu
An Enugu State High Court presided over by Justice C.O. Ajah, on Monday adjourned to March 24, to consider all applications in the suit brought before it by the Enugu State Government against two banks, two transport companies, Nigerian Railway Corporation and many others labeled unknown.
The Suit No: E/992/2023, between Enugu State Government, Attorney General, Enugu State, as Plaintiffs/Respondents and First City Monument Bank Nigeria Limited, ECO Bank Nigeria Limited, Chisco Transport Nigeria Limited, G.U.O. Transport Nigeria Limited, Nigerian Railway Corporation and Persons unknown, as Defenders/Respondents, started in November 2023.
On November 23, 2023, the court granted eight orders sought by the state government in the Motion Exparte filed by the Attorney General of Enugu State, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, which included the sealing, suspension and close down of the premises and respective activities of the respondents within the left hand side of Chris Chemist Okpara Avenue, Market Road, Ogui Road, Enugu.
At the resumed hearing of the matter on Monday, there were various applications and counter applications, just as other interested parties also applied to be joined in the suit.
However, after the State government through its counsel, W.I. Ezenwukwa responded to one of the applications for joinder by counsel to the defendants named Persons unknown, Bona Ononugbo, and on the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter, and other arguments, Justice Ajah adjourned the matter to March 24 for every application to be entertained.
Meanwhile, in one of Plaintiff/Respondents counter-affidavit in opposition to a motion by the Persons unknown, a litigant clerk with the State Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Vivian Onuegbu, deposited that she was informed by one of government counsel, W.I. Ezenwukwa among other things “That the Applicant and other Defendants are engaged in the business of sale of petroleum products, petrol station, mass transits, sale of merchandise and other unwholesome products which cause obstruction and pollution within Okpara Avenue, Ogui Road ais of Enugu state.”
Speaking to newsmen after the court sitting, counsel to Persons unknown, Ononugbo, said, “There were various applications and counter applications. Actually the State responded to one of our application for joinder and then on the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter. In the other two they reacted to on that today, although we served them in one of such matters.
“Other interested parties also applied to be joined but we weren’t served their applications because we were not yet parties before the court.
“In summary the court adjourned the matter to 24th of March for every application to be entertained, so that we can move our applications and they can equally move their own applications. Principally we are anticipating that by the next adjourned date the court will look at the motions for joinder. So that those people who the state sue as unknown persons whom they alleged to have served, whom they alleged have interfaced will equally join.”