By Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
The Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi has ordered the Benue State Government to pay a total of N55 million in damages and costs for the unlawful invasion and occupation of two private business premises.
Delivering judgment on Tuesday, Justice R.J. Egbe awarded N50 million as general damages and N5 million as litigation costs in favour of Doo Farms Ltd and Oracle Business Ltd, who instituted the suit against the state government and the Attorney General of Benue State.
The court also granted a perpetual injunction restraining the Benue State Government from further occupation or interference with the disputed properties.
In a detailed ruling, Justice Egbe condemned the actions of the state government, noting that evidence before the court including an unchallenged certificate of occupancy did not justify the invasion and conversion of the applicants’ premises.
The judge further criticised the government for demanding and collecting ground rents from the first applicant while the matter was still pending before the court.
Proceedings were conducted in the absence of legal representation for the Benue State Government, due to the ongoing strike by lawyers in the Ministry of Justice.
Reacting to the judgment, counsel to the applicants, Samuel E. Irabor, commended the court for its diligence and for reinforcing the supremacy of the rule of law over what he described as “the rule of force.”
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