High Court sitting in Effraya, Etung local government area of Cross River State has fixed June 6, as date for accelerated hearing concerning a matter on state government cocoa allocation.
Prior to arguments by parties involved in the matter, the court consolidated 30 matters with similar issues and same defendants for hearing to commence, since the matters are similar and based on same subject matter.
Under consolidated matter, one person will give evidence and the evidence will be used to affect the other persons with similar cases.
In suit No.HE/16/2024 between Mr. Charles Mgbe and other allottees of the said 1,415 hectares of cocoa plots, and the Cross River State government the court ordered that the claimants should remain in the farms pending hearing and determination of matter in court.
The presiding judge, justice Eno Ebri, ordered that the allottees be allowed to continue to work on their cocoa farms pending hearing and determination of the matter in court.
After argument on a motion on interlocutory injunction, counsel for defendant, Wadah Ogar, conceded that he was prepared to allow the status quo to remain as it were.
In a brief interview with LEADERSHIP, claimants’ counsel, Mba Ukweni (SAN),stated that, “We have all agreed the parties should maintain the status quo, and allow the people who are in the farm to continue working, pending hearing and determination of the matter.
“Whatever the court is to determine later, with regards to ownership, is a different issue, but to maintain law and order, the person that is already in possession remains in possession till the matter is
determine.
” You cannot go and remove the person that is in possession, the victim and say he should stay out pending determination of the matter, is lawlessness.
“The advice is that their lawyer will advice them that the court has made its mind bare that, the claimant should be allowed to remain in their various cocoa farms pending hearing you determination of the matter”. Ukweni stated.
In his remarks,counsel for defendant, Wadah Ogar, said, “Eventhough we filed a counter affidavit with several evidence, so why will you have to take another date?
“We came here today for hearing of motion on notice filed by the plaintiffs counsel learned friend MBA Ukweni (SAN), but on getting here ,the court decided that we should take a date fir hearing.”. Ogar said.
When asked if he is not afraid to lose the case, defendant counsel said he is very confident that he will coast to victory.