Court Grants 52 Ijaw Communities Leave To Value Properties Damaged By JTF

ASABA, April 27, (THEWILL) - The Federal High Court sitting in Asaba has ordered commissioned estate agents and valuers for 52 Ijaw communities in Delta to assess property damaged by the Joint Military Task Force (JTF).

The 52 communities in Gbaramatu kingdom had in July 2009 instituted a N100 billion suit against the Federal Government challenging the May 13 invasion of their areas by the JTF.

The suit filed on their behalf by Chief Femi Falana leading Chief 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’s court to compel the Federal Government to rebuild all the houses demolished during the bombardment.

At Friday’s hearing (23rd April, 2010), Justice Ibrahim 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 JTF.

The communities through their counsel Zimughan had told the court that armed military officers of the JTF were still in occupation of the territory in which the applicants are located.

Zimughan said that 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 that the claims and relief sought by the applicants were such that expert’s evidence was necessary to determine the actual losses suffered as a result of the military bombardment of their communities.

Justice Buba who granted the relief sought by the applicants 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.

However, Counsel to the Federal Government, Mr. Emmanuel Okosun, had earlier told the court that his client were not opposed to the application before the court.