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Ugborodo Community Files Petition Against State And Federal Government To Change Name of $16 Billion Export Project

The petition names the Attorney General of the Federation, the Office of the Minister of Justice, the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), and the Delta State Government at the Federal High Court in Warri as responsible parties in this dispute.

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Ugborodo residents have filed a petition against the Warri Southwest Local Government Area (LGA) of Delta State over a dispute in the naming of the Federal Government’s $16 billion Export Processing Zone (EPZ) project.

The petition names the Attorney General of the Federation, the Office of the Minister of Justice, the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), and the Delta State Government at the Federal High Court in Warri as responsible parties in this dispute.

The Ugborodo community have demanded that the EPZ project be named after a local community “Ogidigben,” or after another of the local Ugborodo communities in the area. The export project, valued at $16 billion, was named "Gbaramatu" which the petitioners say violated earlier agreements made to them.

According to the petitioners, the naming was done in bad faith and against public policy. They noted that the status quo of the project location in Ugborodo community, currently between Madangho and Ubefan areas, should be maintained however.

The plaintiffs want to restrain the Federal and State government, their servants, agents, officials, and privies from naming the project after Gbaramatu, or any other name, pending a hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

The defendant's legal counsel, Mr. Efe Akpofure (SAN), has stated that the naming of the export project does not affect the execution of it. He added that there is concern that naming projects after communities in the area could renew hostilities between the Ijaws and Itsekiris.

Meanwhile, the Presiding Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Abubakar Shittu, said that time should afforded to the defendants so they can file their response. He adjourned the case to Tuesday, July 7th 2015.

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Legal