The Nation Newspaper

Tag: orders

  • Court orders agent’s property sold

    Justice Peter Obiora of an Onitsha High Court in Anambra State has ordered the sale of the propetry of a clearing agent, Paschal Nwabufo.

    This followed a Supreme Court judgment, which awarded N26.7million to an Onitsha importer, Gabriel Nwolisah, after Nwabufo failed to clear his goods at the Port Harcourt Wharf between 1984 and 1986.

    An Onitsha Deputy Sheriff has fixed November 7 for the sale by public auction of the landed property belonging to Nwabufo. The proceeds would be used to settle the debt he owed Nwolisah.

    Granting a motion to that effect, after hearing from Nwolisah’s counsel Obi Ulasi (SAN), Justice Peter Obiora ordered that Nwabufo’s property at No. 114 Cameroon Road, Aba, Abia State and his family house and land at Amezi village, Awkuzu in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State be sold and the proceeds be used to pay the judgment sum.

    The Supreme Court had, on June 24, last year, set aside some parts of the judgments of both an Onitsha High Court and the Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu, which refused to grant the prayers of Nwolisah to compel Nwabufo to pay him the money owed him, including $172,200, which he spent on 20-feet container bearing 730 cartons of Neoprene Glue Mastic 66 in August 1983.

    Nwolisah, trading under the name of G. B. VITTALIS CO. (NIG.), said as soon as the imported goods arrived Port Harcourt Wharf in July 1984, he engaged the services of Nwabufo, a clearing agent, operating under the name of Paskodi Maritime Agencies, to procure import licence, clear the goods and deliver it to him, but Nwabufo could not do so.

    In 1986, the Nigeria Ports Authority allegedly sold the goods as overtime cargo.

    He, therefore, demanded from Nwabufo, N57,000 as special damages being money he paid to Nwabufo for the clearing contract which failed, $172,200 as the cost of the imported goods and a 25 per cent interest from April 1986 till the judgment date.

    Justice O. O. Adekeye of the Supreme Court further held that Nwolisah’s prayers were in order and therefore ordered that Nwabufo should refund him all the above mentioned funds.

    In addition, the Supreme Court also ordered Nwabufo to pay Nwolisah extra N50,000 as interest from 1986 till the date of the judgment.

  • Jonathan orders repair of roads before Yuletide

    The Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, has been ordered to ensure that federal roads are in good condition for easy movement during the Yuletide.

    President Goodluck Jonathan gave the order yesterday during the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

    The President, according to the Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, directed the Ministry of Works to carry out the repair of roads washed off by flood before the Christmas season.

    Mrs. Johnson, who anchored the press briefing shortly after the FEC meeting, said: “As we approach the Christmas period, you know there will be much travelling, as people will head for their villages and towns to celebrate the Yuletide.

    “President Jonathan has directed the Ministry of Works to ensure that the major roads in the country are in good condition to guarantee the safety of the people travelling home for the Christmas and New Year celebrations.”

    The Works Minister, who was also at the briefing, assured that the ministry will do everything possible to ensure that federal roads are in good condition, especially those affected by flood.

    He said the ministry is working on Kano, Plateau and Enugu roads and those in other states.

    Mr. Onolememen said the rehabilitation of Kano roads would cost about N3 billion, while that of Plateau would cost about N1 billion.

    He said measures are in place to guard against compromise by top officials involved in the projects monitoring.

    The minister announced the reopening of the Third Mainland Bridge, 10 days before the scheduled date. This, he said, the ministry would replicate in its duties.

    Said he: “As a result of the heavy rains witnessed in all parts of the country this year, coupled with the overflow of Rivers Niger and Benue, our roads were damaged.

    “Today, the Federal Executive Council approved that a special programme for the maintenance and rehabilitation of major arterial roads should be carried out by the Federal Ministry of Works.

    “Today’s approval by FEC will ensure that all impacted road infrastructures are given due attention.

    “So, in the next couple of weeks, we will witness a massive roll-out on most sections of the federal highway across the country.

    “I assure Nigerians that we will do our best to ensure that the roads are put in good conditions again to guarantee the safety of motorists and commuters during the end of the year.”

    On the successful completion of the rehabilitation of the Third Mainland Bridge, he said: “Yesterday, we re-opened the bridge, whose contract was awarded for maintenance and repairs by the FEC last November.

    “The repair was scheduled to be completed by November 6, but due to effective planning and monitoring, we achieved the feat about 10 days before the scheduled completion date.”

    Onolememen said the re-opening of the bridge has brought succour to motorists and commuters in Lagos.