Akwa Ibom Transporters drag Attorney General, other Commissioners to Court

by Nora Inwang 

Commercial bus drivers and tricycle riders in Uyo metropolis of Akwa Ibom State have dragged the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Commissioner for Transport and Petroleum Resources, and the Commissioner for Environment to court over alleged double taxation and other levies deemed as inordinate.

The suit filed before the Akwa Ibom State High Court by Usungurua Bassey Esq, on behalf of the transporters, also has the Akwa Ibom State Board of Internal Revenue Service, Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency, Nature Control Company Limited, and a consultant, Mr Nkereuwem Eniang, as defendants.
As sighted by our reporter, a Motion on Notice brought pursuant to Order 39(1) and (2) of the Akwa Ibom State High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2000, prays the court for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants from carrying on with the new biometric exercise pending the determination of the substantive suit.
Attorney General Uko Udom

Other interlocutory injunctions sought by the claimants include the restraining of defendants from compelling mini bus and tricycle operators from paying for two city permits in the same year pending the determination of the substantive suit, restraining order against the defendants from compelling them to pay for two drivers and conductors badges in the same year, a restraining order against the defendants  compelling the claimants to pay for two pollution/gaseous emission vehicle certificates in the same, a restraining order against the defendants compelling claimants paying for and obtaining Plastic Waste Disposal Basket for the sum of 5000 Naira every year after payment had been made for Sanitation/ Pollution Permit and Sewage/ Disposal Permit pending the determination of the substantive suit, a restraining order barring the defendants, their servants, agents, privies or otherwise from further acts of unlawful arrest and/or detention, assault, extortion, harassment, intimidation and/or seizure of their mini buses or tricycles under the guise of enforcement of the double registration, payment an/or taxes complained of in this case pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit, as well as such further order or orders the court may deem fit to make.
The transporters are represented in the matter by Mr Charles Okon Ekpo, Mr Abel Udo Jeremiah, Mr Bassey Effiong Udofa, Mr Inemesit Edet Ubaha, Mr Toro Bassey, Mr Aniedi Okon Isang and Mr Ndueso Archibong Udo.
The Motion on Notice dated 18 October, 2022 is for the service of all the defendants.

The case was adjourned to Monday, November 14, 2022.

(C) Norah Inwang 

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