Impunity in CRS as Governor Ayade allocates court land to legislator

There is unease among the three arms of government in Cross River State as NBA Ogoja branch drags the state governor, Ben Ayade to High Court, Ogoja division over allocation of a portion of land in Magistrate Court 2 premises to Mr. Peter Odey, member representing Ogoja State Constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly.

And based on the prayer of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ogoja chapter, the High Court, Ogoja division has granted an order restraining any person from trespassing on the portion of land in Magistrate Court 2, Ogoja magisterial division.

The state governor welded the authority vested in his office and as empowered by the land use act of 1978 which makes the chief executive of states trustee of lands in his domain.

But respite has come for the abandoned and dilapidated court buildings with the donations from Hon. Jeribe Agom Jeribe, member representing Ogoja/ Yala federal constituency in the green chamber of the National Assembly and Hon. Peter Odey, allotee of the land. The former gave N1.5m and the latter N250,000 to give Magistrate Court 2 a befitting facelift.

Meanwhile, hearing on the case was resumes on Thursday at the High Court, Ogoja division. But at the time of filling this report, information on the outcome of the proceeding was sketchy.

By: Archibong Emmanuel

(Senior Reporter)