Court Fixes Case Against PPMC For Dec 13

The Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt has fixed Dec. 13 for hearing in a motion for amendment in an appeal brought against the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company Ltd (PPMC) by an Aba-based licensed auctioneer, Chief Brown Okosisi, and three others.

The plaintiffs/appellants dragged the PPMC to a Port Harcourt High Court over breach of business contract in a 20-paragraph joint statement of claim.

They prayed the court among other things to order the defendant to release 20 boarded pipes sold by public auction to them and also to release a 20-ton crane and two trailer trucks with registration numbers AE 680 RKY and XC 246 SMK, which were allegedly seized by the defendant.

They also urged the court to award them N416.9 million as accumulated and aggravated damages.

However, the High Court, presided over by Justice R.M. Ailawa ordered the release of the 20 boarded pipes, the crane and the two trucks to the plaintiffs but refused them monetary compensation.

Dissatisfied with the lower court’s judgment, the plaintiffs headed for the Appeal Court in Port Harcourt.

At the last adjourned date, Counsel to the plaintiff, Dr Godwin Onuoha sought leave of the court to amend the original notice of appeal.

He prayed the court for an order to set aside part of the judgment of the lower court that failed to award special damages to the appellants and ordered that aggravated special damages of N416.9 million be paid to the plaintiffs/appellants in the interest of justice.