Justice Joseph Ifeanyi Nweze of the Anambra State High Court has stopped Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo from demolishing Onitsha market, a decision that has thrown the traders into jubilation.
Also restrained by the Court are the Attorney-General of the State and Commissioner for Justice; Commissoner of Police and the Commissioner for Trade and Commerce who were named as respondents.
The plaintiffs led by Izuchukwu Paul Madubuko had in a suit with Ref No: O/MISC.35/2026, filed by their lawyer, Nnamdi Ibegbu [SAN], sought an order restraining the defendants from carrying out the planned demolition of the market.
A copy of the court ruling was obtained by our correspondent in Abuja on Saturday.
The seven applicants in the Motion on Notice and Motion Ex parte, sued for themselves and the traders and occupants of Human Fence Zone 1 Line, Onitsha Main Market.
Delivering his ruling, the judge ordered the parties to maintain the status quo and should not resort to self-help.
According to him, the counsel of both parties should apply for the proceedings of the court and make sure it gets to the Honourable Attorney-General.
He consequently adjourned the case, fixing March 16 2026, for hearing of the substantive suit.
Governor Soludo had in a meeting with community leaders, bemoaned what he termed the “deplorable state of the market” and announced a plan to clear out the market shops.
He stated that the market no longer attracted buyers like it did in the past and promised to embark on a “painful” exercise by demolishing the market to bring it up to the standards of Taiwan.
But in a swift move, the traders rushed to the court for protection, describing the plan as vendetta.
While accusing him of trying to confiscate the market and hand them to his cronies, they lamented the hardship the demolition exercise would cause them in terms of monetary loss, stressing that the timing was wrong.
They said the court verdict is a victory for the rule of law and traders’ rights.
Meanwhile, the United Igbo Elders Council (UIEC) has appealed to Soludo to reconsider his plan to demolish the market.
The organisation suggested alternative solutions like building extension markets or relocating some sections instead of outright demolition.
The organisation, in a statement by its President, Dr Emmanuel Udeze, also called on President Bola Tinubu to warn the police not to be involved in the development.
The organisation stressed that Onitsha Market is now a national treasure that should not be left in the hands of adventurous governors.
