Northern Community Drags Wike To Court Over Seizure Of Trucks, Cows

The Northern Community in Rivers State has slammed a N100 million suit on the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike at the Federal High Court sitting in Port over the seizure of cows and trucks from Adamawa State.

The Northern Community is demanding the sum of as compensation for the arrest of their kinsmen who were in the state on a business trip alongside their cows and trucks.

The trial judge, Justice E.O. Obile, has already fixed June 1 to hear the substantive suit filed by the Northern Community.

Justice Obile fixed the date to allow the Plaintiff to put Wike and the state government on notice over the case.

Counsel for the claimants, Eze Kpaniku, argued that Wike erred in arresting his clients, adding that they had waivers from the Federal Government for interstate movements to distribute the Agricultural products.

Kpaniku also lamented that both his clients and their cows have been arrested and dumped at the Isolation centre without food and medication for days.

Meanwhile, Leader of Northern Community in Rivers State, Alhaji Musa Saidu had demanded for the unconditional release of the arrested trader.

He said the Hausa community is the worst hit in the lockdown in Port Harcourt as most of their members have been arrested and detained at the isolation Centre.

Wike had impounded two trailers loaded with cows and heading for Port Harcourt, the state capital, despite the 24-hour lockdown to check the Coronavirus pandemic in the capital city.

The Governor, according to a statement said the Governor also arrested 14 persons in the two trailers conveying the cattle from Adamawa State to Port Harcourt.

The governor said that the cows and the trailers would be auctioned, explaining that a tip-off from some persons led to the arrest.

28th March 2024
Nigerian Pantagraph
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