Deep Seaport: Court orders maintenance of ‘status quo antebellum’

The Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State has ordered that all parties in suit no: FHC/WR/86/2015 regarding the naming of Deep Seaport project in Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State “maintains the status quo antebellum and refrain from mentioning the Deep Seaport after any community, pending the determination of the substantive suit”.

In a ruling Friday evening, July 10, 2015, the Trial Judge, Hon. Justice Shittu Abubakar declared that since the first, second and fourth defendants: the Federal Government, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice as well as the Delta State Government respectively, did not file any counter affidavit against the motion of the plaintiffs, Chief Ayirimi Emami, Itse Elijah Wilkie, Mike Okoturo, Pastor Emiko Fregene and Samuel Pirah for Ugborodo community, “it goes to show that they have no opposition”.

According to him, it will be in the interest of justice for the parties in the suit to maintain the status quo, because the matter is now subject to the court, even as he posited that the application of the plaintiffs has merit.

In court for the plaintiffs were: L.O. Egboyi and D.E. Oki, while the Nigerian Port Authority Counsel, M.O. Maduakolam was represented by D.O. Omage. Delta State Government was represented for the first time by E. Akpoghene, Senior State Counsel, Robinson Ariyo and Chief F. Zimughan, both representing Kpokpo and Gbaramatu Communities respectively, sought to be joined in the suit as second plaintiffs and defendants respectively:

Chief Ayirimi Emami, Itse Elijah Wilkie, Mike Okoturo, Pastor Emiko Fregene and Samuel Pirah on behalf of Ugborodo community through their led Counsel, Chief E.L. Akpofure (SAN) had filed an interlocutory injunction, asking the court to among others declare that “the proposed naming of the Deep Seaport sited in Ugborodo land between Madangho and Ubefan” is “wrongful, against public policy, unconstitutional, illegal and therefore null and void”.

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