From Nweke Nweke, Onitsha
Despite court action instituted by one of the aggrieved traders, Sir Peter Okala seeking court injunction to stop the proposed market election on the ground that it was aimed at sidelining the traders there is move by the leadership of the market to go ahead with the election slated to hold on 30th June, 2014.
However, there is also palpable tension at the Bridge head market in Onitsha South Council Area, Anambra State over alleged irregularities and plots by the leadership of the market to disenfranchise over 1,500 traders in the proposed election.
247ureports gathered that the precipitating crisis arising from leadership tussle in the market led to constitution of caretaker committee by the former Governor Peter Obi’s administration, the action of the then governor was to make sure that no non-indigene in the state should hold any leadership position within his tenure and it later went as planned by the ex-governor.
Sir Okala had approached Anambra State High Court, sitting in Onitsha, in suit No. 0/745/2014, seeking an interlocutory injunction to stop the proposed election pending the determination of the substantive suit which sought to get interpretation of non adherence to the market constitution as regards to the conduct of election in the market.
In written affidavit supported with the constitution of the Onitsha Bridgehead market, the counsel to Sir Okala, Mr. Chibuike Nwabueze drew the attention of the court to what they described as impending doom in the conduct of the market election if the issues sought by the plaintiff are not addressed.
The plaintiff through his counsel also sought the court interlocutory injunction restraining the Anambra State Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the caretaker committee chairman of the market, Chief Emeka Orizu and the chairman of Anambra Amalgamated Traders Association, AMATAS, Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo from conducting election into the Executive committee of the market pending the determination of the substantive suit.
Visibly angry presiding Justice Agbata of Anambra State High Court 1 while ruling on the matter brought before him cautioned against possible breakdown of law and order.
