Disagreement Over Counsel Representation Stalls Electronics Market Case

By Alphonsus Nweze, Onitsha

Disagreement over who should represent the Board of Trustees (BoT) of Electronics Dealers Market, Onitsha, Anambra State stalled the adoption of court process 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 presided by Justice C.C Okaa.

When the matter came up for hearing, two counsels appeared for the BOT.The counsels were H.O. Eze for Philip Iheanocho and other members of Board of Trustees and E.C Ezemenari who appeared for the Chairman of Board of Trustees of the Market.

Ezemenari claimed that the Board of Trustees 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, explained what gave rise to the confusion in the court, saying that the Chairman of Board of Trustees 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 went beyond their mandate and have been collecting every other levy, including sanitation, security, loading and off-loading levies.

He said in doing that, they intimidated and harassed the traders with their illegal taskforce, Peace Committee, and some traders sent out of the market and their shops locked up.