The suit was filed by the Chief Executive Officer of London Line Transport Company Limited, Emmanuel Viashima, who contended that two of the seized vehicles belonged to him and not to Ortom.
It will be recalled that the Benue governor in July set up an Assets Recovery Committee Alia to recover state properties allegedly taken away by Ortom.
The committee, led by Hinga Biem, on July 17 stormed a facility said to be Ortom’s automobile workshop in Markurdi and towed away 32 luxury vehicles.
But Viashima contended that two of the impounded vehicles were his own and not Ortom’s, hence, he filed a suit against Alia demanding N5bn in damages.
Other defendants in the suit are the Commissioner of Police in Benue State, Benue State Government, the Attorney General of Benue State and the chairman of the Benue State Asset Recovery Committee, Hinga Biem.
When the matter came up for hearing on Tuesday, Viashima’s lawyer, Andrew Wombo, told the judge that he was ready for the case. But counsel for the AGF, E.T. Nyityo, said he was not ready to proceed as he was only served with the hearing notice at 3.21pm on Monday.
Following an argument by counsel, the judge adjourned the case till October 30 for a hearing.
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