Court grants communities leave to evaluate property damaged by JTF
The Federal High Court in Asaba on Friday granted
leave to estate agents and valuers engaged by 52 Ijaw communities to
assess property damaged by the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in the
area.
The 52 communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom had in
July 2009 instituted a N100 billion suit against the federal government
challenging the May 13, 2009 invasion of the areas by the JTF.
The suit filed on their behalf by Femi Falana,
leading Felude Zimughan and Selekeowei Larry, sought for damages for
lives and property “wantonly destroyed” by the military operations.
The communities also prayed the Justice Ibrahim
Buba court to compel the Federal Government to rebuild the houses
demolished during the bombardment.
At Friday’s hearing, Mr. Buba ordered that the
communities be permitted to assess and carry out valuation of property
or properties said to have been destroyed on or about May 13, 2009 by
the JTF.
The communities, through its counsel Mr. Zimughan,
had told the court that armed military men of the JTF were still in
occupation of the territory in which the applicants were located.
Mr. Zimughan said the estate valuers commissioned
by the 52 Ijaw communities required the protection of the court to have
unrestricted access to the property without fear of molestation or
intimidation.
He said the claims and reliefs sought by the
applicants were such that expert evidence was necessary to determine
the actual losses suffered as a result of the military bombardment of
their communities.
Mr. Buba, who granted the reliefs sought by the
applicants, said “The application is granted as prayed” and adjourned
the matter to May 24 for further hearing.
He ordered that the experts commissioned by the
affected communities should enter the areas to assess and carry out
valuation of property said to have been destroyed on May 13 by the JTF.
Counsel to the federal government, Emmanuel Okosun, had earlier told
the court that his clients were not opposed to the application and
would go into the substantive matter.
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