Cattle traders suing the government of Abia over plans to demolish homes inside the market.
On March 13, 2024, a hearing in a lawsuit to prevent the state government from moving forward with its plan to renovate the Umuchieze Garki Cattle Market would begin at an Abia State High Court located in Isuochi.
Cattle traders suing the government of Abia over plans to demolish homes inside the market.
Additionally, the government has made the decision to stop livestock merchants and their families from residing inside the market.
However, after receiving a warning notice from the Umunneochi Local Government’s Town Planning Authority, which is about to start demolishing residential homes inside the market, the cattle traders and market goers have taken the government to court.
Twelve people, including group spokesperson Buba Kedemure, Sarkin Zango, and Hussaini Muhammad, filed the lawsuit, No. HUM/9/2024, on behalf of the market’s residents as well as livestock sellers.
While the lawsuit is being heard and decided, the court will make a decision on an application for an interlocutory injunction, which aims to stop the government from demolishing residential buildings inside the market.
Since last October, the Abia administration and the livestock merchants have been at odds over the government’s desire to redesign the cattle market and turn it into a non-residential space, citing security concerns.
The state Commissioner of Lands, Chaka Chukwumerije; the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna; Ndubuisi Ike, the Chairman of the Umunneochi Local Government; and the state Commissioner of Police have all been added as defendants in the lawsuit.
