WARRI– High Court 3, Warri Judicial Division, has adjourned to June 30 the motion for interlocutory injunction in the suit filed by Abugewa Etchie and five others, for themselves and on behalf of Beresibi community in Warri North LGA, against Utieyin Asamah and 13 others.
The claimants are seeking an order restraining past and present community executives from further dealings with oil companies operating in the area and from withdrawing funds from the community account.
Speaking after the adjournment by Justice Emudainohwo, counsel to the claimants, Onajite Ohwarhua, said his clients approached the court to demand accountability from past and present executives over benefits accruing to Beresibi from companies including Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited, Elcrest Exploration Limited, and Origin Global Nigeria Limited.
According to Ohwarhua, the claimants allege that present and past chairmen diverted community benefits into personal accounts. “We want the court to intervene and come to their rescue,” he said.
He added that they are seeking an injunction to stop the executives from further transactions on behalf of the community, halt withdrawals from the community account, and compel them to render account.
The judge, however, adjourned the matter to allow both parties to be heard on the motion.
One of the claimants, Abugewa Etchie, told reporters that in the past five years the executives had failed to render account to the community and did not enter a Memorandum of Understanding with operating companies for peaceful coexistence.
“The community has decided that a new executive should be inaugurated.
The present executive has failed us by converting community funds to personal funds,” Etchie said.
Representing the elders’ council, Dr. Albert Ikomi and Pa Olire Babine said all they want is for the executives to render account to the community they represent.
Youth and women representatives, including Daykings Amatajuwa, echoed the call for accountability, alleging that lack of basic amenities and development in Beresibi was due to embezzlement of community funds by past and present executives.
