By CrossRiverWatch Admin
The Federal High Court, Calabar Division today gave judgment in favor of the Cross River state government against two communities along the path of the proposed Super Highway, one of the signature projects of the governor, Ben Ayade.
The suit no HM/191/2016 was initiated by the people of New and Old Ekuri of Akamkpa seeking to stop the construction of the superhighway.
While delivering judgement in the suit today, Justice Maurice Eneji of High Court 3 Calabar, in his judgement, dismissed the originating motion of the applicants/claimants seeking to stop the revocation of the land of the Claimant’s communities for the construction of the Super Highway as being an abuse of court process.
The judge similarly did not grant the prayer of the Applicants to stop the construction of the Super Highway.
The Judge further awarded cost of a 100,000 Naira against the Claimants/Applicants in favor of the Cross River state government.
The government was represented in the matter by Barrister Richard Akpanke Akwagiobe (state counsel ) while the claimants were represented by Barrister James Oyi and Barrister Ikoi.
Lamenting his ordeal after the judgment, the state counsel, Barrister Akwagiobe expressed delight at the decision of the court but however decried the fact that such a sensitive matter of government that touches on a signature project of the state government was done by him exclusively and that he bore the cost of prosecuting the matter from his private pockets.
He said he expended over a 100,000 naira from his meagre salary prosecuting the matter for government but was however thankful that the matter was resolved in his favor and that he further got cost awarded in favor of the state government.
Counsels to the Claimants, were not immediately available for comments.