Superhighway: Cross River government floors Ekuri community in court

A Federal High Court in Calabar Thursday gave judgment in favor of the Cross River state government against two communities that dragged the government to court over the proposed 260km superhighway, one of the signature projects of the governor, Professor Ben Ayade.

The suit with no HM/191/2016 was initiated by the people of New and Old Ekuri of Akamkpa Local Government Area seeking to stop the construction of the superhighway.

But  delivering judgement in the suit Thursday, Justice Maurice Eneji of High Court 3 dismissed the suit as an abuse of court process.

The judge similarly did not grant the prayer of the Applicants to stop the construction of the superhighway.

The Judge further awarded a cost of a 100,000 Naira against the Claimants/Applicants in favor of the Cross River state government.

The government was represented in the matter by Barrister Richard Akpanke Akwagiobe (state counsel ) while the claimants were represented by Barrister James Oyi and Barrister Ikoi.

Reacting, Barrister Akwagiobe expressed his delight at the judgement.

He said he was happy that the matter was resolved in his favor and that he further got cost awarded in favor of the state government.

Counsels to the Claimants, were not immediately available for comments.