WARRI—A Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, has ordered parties to maintain status quo in the suit challenging the naming of Deep Seaport project in Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Trial judge, Justice Shittu Abubakar, who made the order at the hearing in the matter, said parties should “maintain  status quo antebellum and refrain from mentioning the Deep Seaport after any community,” pending the determination of the suit.

Defendants in the suit are the Federal Government, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Delta State Government, Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, while plaintiffs are Chief Ayirimi Emami, Itse Elijah Wilkie, Mike Okoturo, Pastor Emiko Fregene and Samuel Pirah for Ugborodo community.

The judge said that it will be in the interest of justice for the parties in the suit to maintain status quo, because the matter is now before the court.

Chief Emami, Wilkie, Mike Okoturo, Pastor Fregene and Samuel Pirah on behalf of Ugborodo community through their lead counsel, Chief E.  Akpofure, SAN, are praying the court to, among others, declare that “the proposed naming of the Deep Seaport sited in Ugborodo land between Madangho and Ubefan” is “wrongful, against public policy, unconstitutional, illegal and therefore null and void.”

Meanwhile, Kpokpo and Gbaramatu communities are seeking to be joined in the suit as second plaintiffs and defendants, respectively.