Enugu State High Court Awards N20 Million in Environmental Degradation Case Against University of Nigeria and Viagem Property
An Enugu State High Court sitting in Nsukka, Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, has awarded N20 million in damages against the University of Nigeria (UNN) and Viagem Property and Investment Limited in a case concerning environmental degradation in the Ajuona Obukpa community.
The court, in its final judgment delivered by Justice Hyacenthia Ezugwu, also ordered UNN and Viagem Property and Investment Limited, the first and second defendants respectively, to halt further development of a hostel facility that was causing flooding in the Ajuona community. The development is to remain on hold until proper erosion control measures are put in place.
The plaintiff, Hon. Nnaemeka Aleke, representing Ajuona Obukpa community, filed suit No N/86/2020, seeking to restrain UNN and Viagem Property and Investment Limited from continuing the development of an 11,900-room hostel due to the alleged environmental degradation caused to his community.
Barr. Ikechukwu Odo, the lead counsel for the plaintiff, explained that apart from the N20 million damages, the court also awarded N500,000 for the cost of action against the defendants.
“The court in delivering the final judgment resolved all the issues in favor of the plaintiff, Hon. Nnaemeka Aleke, and his Ajuona Obukpa community. The court agreed that there was a significant nuisance created by the University of Nigeria and Viagem Property and Investment Limited due to the lack of erosion control, which resulted in flooding in the Ajuona Obukpa community.
“After agreeing with us on all the issues, the court ordered the University of Nigeria and Viagem Property and Investment Limited to stop further development of the hostel project until proper erosion control measures are put in place and granted a perpetual injunction to that effect.
“The court equally awarded N20 million in damages jointly and severally against the first and second defendants and also awarded N500,000 for the cost of action against the defendants too,” he explained.
Barr. Odo praised the court for seeing through the tactics used by the defendants to try and prevent the court action from being considered on its merits.
The plaintiff, Hon. Aleke, expressed his satisfaction with the court’s competence and the judge’s approach to administering justice in their case.
“I am personally convinced with the competence of the court and I loved the disposition of the judge in administering justice in our matter. I encourage other courts to emulate such competency because the court is the last hope of a common man,” he said.
