By Polycarp Ifeanyi
Disagreement over who should represent the Board of Trustees( BOT) of Electronics Market Dealers Onitsha debarred the adoption of process for court by both parties Tuesday.
The Electronics Dealers traders through Ifechukwu Anozie had dragged the three man Caretaker committee headed by Donatus Obi, to Atani High Court which was presided by Justice C.C Okaa.
When the matter came up for hearing, two counsels appeared for Board of Trustees (BOT) They counsels included; H.O. Eze for Philip Iheanocho and other members of Board of Trustees ( BOT) and E.C Ezemenari who appeared for the Chairman of Board of Trustees (BOT).
Ezemenari claimed that the Board of Trustees ( BOT) was not served, which was proved to be untrue by the court as they were duly served even with hearing notice .
Justice C. C Okaa however, asked both counsels to file their addresses and return to the adjourned date on May 23, 2024.
But the counsel to the defendants Chief Ugo Ugwunnadi Esq, explained what gave rise to the confusion in the court, saying that the Chairman of Board of Trustees ( BOT) had sold out to the defendants, the three -man Committee and compromised his position.
He also said that the plaintiff has a very clear and unambiguous case which he was sure that they would get justice at the end of the day.
Ugwunnadi further said that the crux of the matter was that the State Government appointed Donatus Obi and two others to collect taxes and development levy for the Government but they want beyond their mandate and have been collecting every other levy, including sanitation, security, loading and off-loading levies.
He said that they intimidated and harassed the traders with their illegal taskforce, Peace Committee, and some traders were sent out of the market and their shops were locked up.
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