A High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has ordered Abaimbong Udofia popularly known as Livingstone Estate Limited, to Pay the sum of one billion (₦1bn) naira compensation to the people of Umuotube, Umuogodo, and Umuona communities in Igboh kingdom in Etche Local Government Area of the state.
Livingstone Estate is reported to have lost a matter in a customary court in Egwi in Etche LGA, but proceeded to High Court to file fresh suit in the same subject matter where he secured a judgment and moved into the land with officers of the Nigerian Police accompanied by Deputy Chief Sherif of the court to demolish properties worth billions.
Actions of the Livingstone Estate prompted Chief Kemakolam Nwamuo and eighteen others to seek justice by filing a fundamental rights action and malicious damage suit against Livingstone Estate Limited and two others.
The presiding Judge, Justice Sika Aprioku, while delivering judgment in the case, strongly condemned the attitude of Livingstone Estate for abandoning the valid judgment of the Customary Court against them, and refused to appeal it since 2020 till date.
The court insist that those prior customary court judgements against Livingstone Estate, still subsists and remains in force until set aside by Customary Court of Appeal in accordance with the law.
The court however awarded the sum of one billion naira as a general damage in favor of Kemakolam Nwamuo and eighteen others against the Livingstone Estate.
Speaking after the judgment delivery Chief Nwamuo, expressed happiness over the verdict of the court, describing it as integrity on the part of the judge whom he said was unbiased in his judgment.
He affirmed that the judgment is a prove that the people of Umuotube, Umuogodo, and Umuona communities in Ogboh kingdom are the legitimate owners of the said property following the judgment of the customary court which is yet to be appealed.
