…Imo govt seals building
From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
Palpable tension gripped judges and lawyers of the Chukwudifu Oputa High Court located a few meters from the Port Harcourt road in New Owerri, Imo State, on Friday as they fled the court over fear of the J.I Orjiakor court building collapsing.
The building constructed by former governor of the State Rochas Okorocha, at the tail end of his administration is said to be in a dilapidated state, with some of its roof already falling off.
Despite its state, the lawyers and other staff inside the court premises have been managing to carry out their duties in it until yesterday, when a vibration was felt around the building.
This, according to a source from the court, made some of the lawyers and occupants in the building, including residents around, scamper for safety.
It was shortly that some residents claimed the vibration was caused by a vibrator used by a company around the area.
“It was as if the ground was shaking, and since we’ve been in fear already about the building, we all ran out.” A source said.
Another resident from the area said, “I was afraid when I saw some people running they said the court building was about to collapse. I had to run too. It was later that they told me that the vibration was caused by work from a construction company around the area.”
Although, the state chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Chris Ihentuge, had earlier raised an alarm about the deteriorating state of the court building.
Addressing newsmen at the premises, Ihentuge said the court would be shut down for a week for experts to address the problems at the building.
Meanwhile, the Owerri Capital Development Agency (OCDA) has acted swiftly to seal the building.
General Manager of the Agency, Franklin Nzewodo, led his men with some heavily armed security men on Friday to seal the building and inscribed boldly on it, “Keep off! Building under structural investigation by OCDA”.
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