Odi vs CBN: Community Decries Absence Of Judge

The people of Odi Com
munity in Bayelsa State have decried the absence of the trial judge at the Port Harcourt Federal High Court, Justice Lambo Akanbi handling the matter between the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Odi Community, describing such absence as unhappy situation for the people.
Speaking to journalists at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Monday, the spokesperson of the Odi community who is also the second plaintiff in the matters, Rtd Commodore Koko Imananagha disclosed that the people of the community numbering about 100 came to the court with the hope to get victory but was told that court was not sitting because the trial judge went to Bayelsa for other matter adding that the people were going back home disappointed, because of the inability of the court to sit due to the absence of the trial judge.
He stated that the matter was slated for ruling on the refusal of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to pay the garnishing order of N37.6 billion being the judgement sum gotten against the federal government over the demolition of Odi Community during the former president Obasanjo’s administration.
He further stated that the Central Bank who is the third party in the matter instead of complying with the court order proceeded to the Appeal Court adding that the community also defeated the apex bank at the Appeal Court. According to him, the refusal of the apex bank to pay the money as directed by the  appeal and Federal High Courts informed the community’s decision approach the High Court again for court contempt against the bank.
“The ruling today would have given us another victory over federal government and also fast-track the payment of the money. We would have been happier today if the Central Bank governor would have been jailed today” he stated.
Commodore Imananagha however, said that the community had also filed the suit against federal government of Nigeria at a London court adding that the community decided to take the matter far because of how the government is handling the matter.
Meanwhile, the ruling has been shifted to March 19th, 2014.