LocalNewsNigeriaPoliticsEzza stakeholders give plaintiffs 72 hours ultimatum to withdraw suit against Ebonyi airport project

Avatar PilotnewsJanuary 31, 2020
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Stakeholders of Ezza clan in Ebonyi state have given their brothers who filed a suit against the construction of an international airport in Ezza land 72 hours to withdraw the suit in the interest of peace and development.

This was contained in a communiqué issued after an expanded stakeholders meeting of the Clan at the palace of the Chairman, Ebonyi State Traditional Rulers Council, H.R.M Ezeogo Charles Mkpuma {Ezegburugbala the III} of Ezzama Kingdom.

Six persons, namely: Messrs Nwantiti Christopher, Oken Stephen, Chukwu
Celestine, Igwe Sunday, Igwe Emeka and Nwafor Toochukwu, had in a suit
no. FHC/CS/82/2019, sued Ebonyi State Government, on behalf of themselves and the three communities, Okeleru, Umuezoka and Umuogharu, at the Federal High Court Abakaliki, alleging forceful takeover of their ancestral homes for construction of Airport.

They had prayed the court to compel Ebonyi state government to pay them N2bn in damages, for illegally and forcefully ejecting them from their ancestral homes, destroying their residential houses and economic trees, without compensations. They also prayed the court to make an order stopping the construction of the airport, in the alternative.

The court has fixed March 12, 2020, to deliver judgment on the matter.

But the Clan condemned in strong terms the court action against the airport project, especially as the litigants never consulted the host communities, before doing so.

They further disclosed in the communiqué that they were totally in support of the choice of Ezza land for the airport project.

They also passed voted of confidence on the Governor and urged him to forge ahead with the airport project.

“That the stakeholders of Ezza Ezekunna are well at ease with the choice of Ezza land for sitting Ebonyi Cargo International Airport and shall at all time continue to give our unalloyed support and solidarity towards the actualization of such an important project.

“That the stakeholders condemn in strong terms the vituperations and anti-progressive actions of some faceless individuals against the actualization of the international airport project in Ezza land by instituting court actions against the state government when huge amount of money has already been released for compensation of those affected by the airport project and large expanse of land also mapped out for their relocation/resettlement.

“That the stakeholders further resolve that those involved in the court actions against the state government are given seventy-two [72] hours ultimatum from today to retrace their steps by withdrawing the suit in the interest of peace and development, more so, as consent of members of the affected communities were neither sought nor obtained in whatsoever before instituting the action.

“That the stakeholders hereby pass a vote of confidence on the admirable leadership style of His Excellency, the Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Nweze Umahi and as well, urge His Excellency to forge ahead on the ongoing international airport in Ezza land”, the communiqué read.

Those who attended the meeting from the Clan included: past and present National Assembly members, State executive council members, Chairmen and members of board commissions, Traditional Rulers, Council Chairmen and Counsellors, Development Centre Coordinators, President and Executives of Town Unions, Members of Youths and Women organizations, etc.

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