BY Emma Arubi

WARRI—Delta State Government, at the resumed hearing of the land suit brought  against it by Okere community, Warri South Local Government Area, opposed the application for joinder by the Ijaw of Ogbe-Ijoh.

The community, in the case before Justice Marshall Mukoro, is praying the court to restrain Delta State Government from forcefully acquiring their land measuring over 3.197 hectares.

It will be recalled that on the day the motion was set for hearing, Justice Mukoro was said to have been kidnapped on his way from Benin City.

At the resummed hearing, Monday, a new twist was introduced into the matter when one Clackson Aribogha and one other person from Ogbe-Ijoh, through their counsel, announced their appearance as co-defendants, which the defendant objected to.

The state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Charles Ajuyah, who raised to the objection, said he wants to personally handle the matter and requested for a short adjournment.

The plaintiff, Okere community, did not object to the joiner application, though it said it was a ploy to frustrate the case while the government was building on the disputed land.

Before adjoining the matter to March 27, Justice Mukoro promised speedy hearing in the matter and charged parties to be up and doing.

Meanwhile, the state government has already completed the construction of a model primary school on the said land that is expected to take off any time from now.