Contractor drags Edo govt to court

By Onozure Dania
A contractor to the Edo State government, Hitech Constuction Company has been dragged  to court by Elder Sonny Giwa Osagie over alleged trespass into his property, claiming N12.017million as special and general damages.

Joined in the suit are the Edo State government and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.

Elder Osagie who stated that he is an Engineer by prfession, claimed in his suit now before Justice Erameh of the state High Court that the construction company which has its head office at Siluko Road, Benin City had unlawfully trespassed into his said property known as 1-3 Asoro Grammer School Close, Off Ekehuan Road, Benin City where he resides, by detroying his fence on May 13, 2011, despite the fact that he obtained a Certificate of Occupancy over the land upon which he build his house.

The plaintiff’s lawyer Amos Oikeh who filed the suit further claimed that the first defendant in the process of destroying his fence, also destroyed his entrance gate, worth N150,000;  designed iron protector worth N 750, 000,  electrical fittings /cable worth N570,000   and the beautification flowers worth N440,000, adding that as a result of the destruction of the fence and gate of his house, the occupants of the property had been gravely exposed to danger, as according to him,  armed robbers on or about May 16 2011, robbed his tenants of their property.

Oikeh further stated that ‘’as a result of the destruction of the fence and gate and the robbery incident his tenants, he (his client) has suffered grave shock, which has made him to visit the hospital often and  also hire the services of security men.’