Court Begins Hearing Of Land Dispute In Omuma

A High Court sitting in Okehi in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State presided by Justice C.A. Okirie has commenced hearing on a disputed plot of land involving Omudu and Umuyie communities in Omuma Local  Government Area of the State.
The claimants in the matter, Eze Monday Nwuju and two others are seeking the leave of the court to declare them as the rightful  owners of the disputed  parcel of land which they called Nguma Land situated it Eberi, while the defendants  led by Chief Onyeaku Nwuche are also claiming ownership of the same land which they referred as Amuhie land  also suituated in Eberi.
When the matter came up for  mention,  the counsel  to one of the claimants, Mr Romanus C. Eze, told the court that  they had served the 3rd  defendant  while,  he had  replied the 1st and 2nd  defendants in their  joint statement  of defence  dated  23rd March,  2017 and added  that he served them on time.
The claimants’ counsel  further informed the court that the defendants replied and served him  out of time and noted that they had also failed to show appearance  in the court.
He urged the court to continue with the matter as the court cannot wait for them, pointing out that their absence in the court was an  indication that they were not ready for the matter.
However, in her ruling, the  trial judge, Justice C.A. Okirie said that the court  would not go ahead with the matter  because there was no proof of service on the defendants in the court’s record. Justice  Okirie while adjourning  the matter to 30th May, 2017 for  motion directed the claimants’ counsel to ensure  proper  service on all the defendants before the  next  adjourned date.
Later in an interview  counsel to the claimants, Mr.  Romanus C. Eze told The Tide that he would comply with the court’s directive to ensure that the defendants were  served before the adjourned date.
He disclosed that the defendants only served him at the venue of the court and refused  to file their service and processes with the court.
“They served us late and even refused to regularize  their service with the court, as well as file a motion for extension of time,” he stated.