By JIMITOTA ONOYUME

PORT HARCOURT – Justice Lambo Akambi of  a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Wednesday,  described as frivolous and lacking in merit, the application by the Federal Government seeking to stay execution of the N37.6 billion judgment awarded the people of Odi community in Bayelsa State, pending the determination of an appeal against the judgment.

Ruling on the application, Justice Akambi said it would be unfair to grant the request of the Federal Government since it took the people of Odi about 10 years to secure judgment in the issue.

The judge said the Federal Government had not advance convincing reasons on why its application should be granted, adding that the government had capacity to pay the compensation awarded the community.

According to Justice Akambi, any legal hurdle to delay payment of the compensation will amount to robbing the people of justice.

The  trio of  Mr. Lawal Rabana SAN, Chief Lucius Nwosu, SAN and Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe SAN, counsel to Odi community, had opposed the application by the Federal Government  to the stay of execution of the  judgment.

Rabana, had urged the court to disregard the Federal Government’s application.

The Federal Government, through its counsel, Mr. Michael Nomeh, pleaded with the court to stay execution of the N37.6 billion judgment, awarded the people of Odi community until appeal on the matter was determined.

Nomeh argued that if the money was paid ahead of determination of the appeal, it will be difficult to get it back from the people in the event that the outcome of the appeal was not in tandem with the earlier court pronouncement.