By Evelyn Usman

Justice E.G Timi of the Delta State High Court has restrained the traditional ruler of Igbodo community in Delta State, Obi Ikechukwu Osadume 1, and five others from trespassing on a landed property in the Onicha-Ugbo area of Delta.

They were further restrained from having any commercial activities on the area of land as specified in the Survey Plan. with the No. LSU:399 and Survey Plan No. LSU: 1821.

Other defendants are: Chief Ifeoha Donatus Azikwe, Chiemeke Emmanuel, Andrew Azikwe and Mayor Azikwe.

The court’s ruling was followed by a suit filed by Merrs Ibezimakor Christopher Udeze, Noel Onochie Udeze, Olikeze Udeze, Kenneth Ugo Udeze and Chidubem Kingsley Udeze, who sued for themselves and on behalf of the other members of the Udeze Aniemeke family.

While delivering the ruling, Justice Timi held that the defendants or their assigns, servants, workers or privies must stay away from committing further acts of trespass on or in any other way interfering with the claimants’ commercial activities, on the area of land as specified in the Survey Plan No. LSU:399 and Survey Plan No. LSU: 1821 attached to the Deed of Grant dated 28/02/1974 and Deed of Indenture dated 07/06/1976 respectively pending the determination of the substantive suit.

After hearing the submission of Counsel to the Claimants/Applicants, the Judge said: “Having said the above, particularly in view of my findings on issues 1, 2 and 3 in respect of the existence of a serious question to be tried, the balance of convenience and reasonability of Applicants conduct in bringing this application, the Applicants have been able to convince this Court of the existence of issues 1, 2 and 3 and most importantly, the fact that the application is not frivolous, the application, therefore, succeeds and same is accordingly granted”.