Nsumide/Ada Oru Land Dispute: Court Directs Defendants To File Statements Of Defence
A court has directed the defendants in Nsumide/Ada Oru land dispute to within fourteen days file amended statements of defence for the continuation of the case.
The presiding judge of Port-Harcourt High Court, Honourable Justice S.H. Aprioku, who gave the order at the end of sitting on Monday also adjourned the case to 3 March for pretrial conference.
On Monday, the counsel to the claimants, Barrister Collins Dike, had told the court that he had filed an amended court process and served on the defendants in November except for two on the day of sitting.
He also said the case was for pretrial conference.
The counsel to second set of defendants, Barrister Patrice Ukposi, told the court that he received the amended processes but asked for time to file the statement of defence.
The judge urged the parties to get the survey plan for the disputed land.
The disputed land is on Tam David West Boulevard, a stretch of road from Airport Roundabout to the Obiri Ikwerre Interchange. Different parties are contesting ownership of the land.
On Monday, counsels to different sets of defendants were in court for the proceedings.
In court were Barrister Patrice Ukposi for second set of defendants, Barrister Donald Atogbo for the fourth set of defendants and Barrister Matthew Wordu for the fifth set of defendants.
Also present were J.C. William for sixth and ninth sets of defendants and Barrister Catherine Olari, who held brief for Barrister Augustine Nwosu, for seventh set of defendants and Barrister Bestman Ibekwe for the eight set of defendants.
Speaking in an interview, counsel to the claimants, Barrister Dike, said that the court joined more parties in the suit and had ordered the claimants to amend the originating processes to include those joined.
The counsel said: “After joining several parties as defendants, the court ordered, in line with the law, that I should amend the originating processes to reflect the new parties joined and the court gave us a period of fourteen days to file and serve on the defendants. We filed and we served”.
He said that the defendants were not able to file their amended statements of defence, adding that the court gave them another fourteen days within which to file their amended statements and serve on the claimant.
The counsel also said that the pretrial conference would help to “streamline” the case before trial.
