WARRI—A Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, has overruled the objection by Gbaramatu people in Warri South-West Local Government Area, to the suit by Ugborodo people also of the same council, seeking to restrain the Federal Government from naming  the Deep Seaport in Escravos, Warri South-West, after Gbaramatu.

Other defendants in the suit are the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Delta State Government and the Delta State Commissioner of Justice.

Trial judge, Justice Shittu Abubakar, rejected the objection challenging the suit by the plaintiffs, Chief Ayirimi Emami, Itse Elijah Wilkie, Mike Okoturo, Pastor Emiko Fregene and Samuel Pirah, on behalf of Ugborodo community through their counsel, Chief E. Akpofure.

The court, meanwhile, adjourned to rule on the interlocutory injunction sought by plaintiffs in the matter.

Counsel to NPA, M. O. Maduakolam, was represented in court yesterday, while the other four defendants  were absent.

Fedude Zimughan, counsel to the Gbaramatu people had applied to be joined in the suit as second set of defendants, claiming that the application for interlocutory injunction sought by the plaintiffs will “one way or the other infringe on the rights of the parties seeking to join in the case.”

Counsel to NPA, M.O Maduakolam, in his submission, contended that the prayer by the plaintiffs was speculative and had no evidence.

According to him, the plaintiffs adduced no evidence that the Deep Seaport would be named after Gbaramatu, adding that the naming of projects of such magnitude was the prerogative of the Federal Ministry of Transport.

Chief Akpofure, in his submission, argued that the argument of NPA’s counsel supporting his clients’ position that the Deep Seaport has not been named after any community.

Apart from F. Zimughan, D.J. Atotuomah, apparently representing another Itsekiri interest also applied to join in the suit.

The Ugborodo community is asking the court to declare that “the proposed naming of the Deep Seaport sited in Ugborodo land  is wrongful, against public policy, unconstitutional, illegal and therefore null and void.”