A former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, on Thursday, said no fewer than 200 persons lost their jobs at the Royal Spring Palm Estate, Owerri, because of its shutdown by the state government.
The estate, which government alleged was built on a green verge against the master plan of Owerri, is owned by Okorocha’s wife, Nkechi.
Okorocha said in a statement issued by his spokesman, Sam Onwuemeodo, that he was happy “to inform Imo people that the state government has appealed a judgment barring it from sealing properties owned by Okorocha and members of his family.”
The statement commended the state government for choosing the “path of honour instead of resorting to self-help.”
The statement read in part, “We are delighted to inform the general public that the Imo State Government has finally gone on appeal against the judgment of Justice T. N. Nzeukwu over the properties in contention. The government had gone on appeal since December 3, 2020.
“In the appeal in suit no: HOW/947/2019, the government had appealed on four grounds and also sought some reliefs, including, asking the Appeal Court to set aside the judgment of the lower court.
“By going on appeal, the government has vindicated us. It has authenticated our repeated claim that there has been an existing judgment on these properties with its accompanying orders. It also added flesh to our claim that the government’s onslaught was borne out of hatred, envy and vendetta.
“We commend the government for finally deciding to toe the path of honour and law in lieu of resorting to self-help, which we had complained against.
“However, we equally expect the government to be humble enough to apologise to the general public for feeding them with all kinds of lies and denials, including denying the existence of a valid court judgment on the properties in question.