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Ariaria Shop Owners Accuse Developer of Shunning Judicial Panel’s Order

Published

Monday, October 28, 2024 at 12:35 PM

Written by Omotola Adeleke

Ariaria Shop Owners Accuse Developer of Shunning Judicial Panel’s Order

Traders from Ariaria International Market in Aba, Abia State, represented by the Ariaria Allottee Traders Association (AATA), have accused the developer, Blessed Henken International Limited, of disregarding orders issued by the State Judicial Panel of Inquiry.

The firm, however, denied the allegations made against it, stating that the claims were unfounded and asserting its commitment to fulfilling its responsibilities.

The state government’s six-member Judicial Panel of Inquiry on the recovery of government assets, funds, and related issues is led by retired Justice Florence Duruoha-Igwe.

The panel restricted the developer and the Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Chimezie Ukaegbu, on January 19, from continuing with sales or transfers of the remodeled A/B/WWLS stalls.

This directive also halted any reallocation or sale of the shops until Governor Alex Otti reviews the panel’s interim report.

Ariaria’s displaced A-line traders asserted that they were the original owners of the shops, which had been demolished and rebuilt by the contractor.

In a petition signed by Chairman Kingsley Achonu and Secretary Ikem Uchendu, the association accused the contractor of also breaching a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) related to the project.

They stated that, in violation of the MoU agreement, the developer has been selling shops in the completed buildings to wealthy buyers, who then convert them into warehouses, rather than offering the original owners the right of first refusal.

The traders reported significant financial losses due to the MoU not being followed, and added, ‘We ask Your Excellency to address the issue of multiple allocations, where some individuals have received between two and 16 shops, while many of the original owners still have not received a single shop.

They stated, “Ariaria shops are intended for traders who sell goods, not for conversion into warehouses.”

They also noted that this month marks three years since the project began, instead of the promised three months, during which many traders have faced hardships that have resulted in numerous deaths.

The Managing Director of Blessed Henken International, Mr. Henry Okoroafor, refuted the claims, asserting that 85 percent of the original shop owners have paid and received their allocations. He also mentioned that shops are still available for allocation to interested individuals.

Edited By: Chinedu Eze

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Ariaria Shop Owners Accuse Developer of Shunning Judicial Panel’s Order

Traders from Ariaria International Market in Aba, Abia State, represented by the Ariaria Allottee Traders Association (AATA), have accused the developer, Blessed Henken International Limited, of disregarding orders issued by the State Judicial Panel of Inquiry.

The firm, however, denied the allegations made against it, stating that the claims were unfounded and asserting its commitment to fulfilling its responsibilities.

The state government’s six-member Judicial Panel of Inquiry on the recovery of government assets, funds, and related issues is led by retired Justice Florence Duruoha-Igwe.

The panel restricted the developer and the Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Chimezie Ukaegbu, on January 19, from continuing with sales or transfers of the remodeled A/B/WWLS stalls.

This directive also halted any reallocation or sale of the shops until Governor Alex Otti reviews the panel’s interim report.

Ariaria’s displaced A-line traders asserted that they were the original owners of the shops, which had been demolished and rebuilt by the contractor.

In a petition signed by Chairman Kingsley Achonu and Secretary Ikem Uchendu, the association accused the contractor of also breaching a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) related to the project.

They stated that, in violation of the MoU agreement, the developer has been selling shops in the completed buildings to wealthy buyers, who then convert them into warehouses, rather than offering the original owners the right of first refusal.

They stated, “Ariaria shops are intended for traders who sell goods, not for conversion into warehouses.”

They also noted that this month marks three years since the project began, instead of the promised three months, during which many traders have faced hardships that have resulted in numerous deaths.

The Managing Director of Blessed Henken International, Mr. Henry Okoroafor, refuted the claims, asserting that 85 percent of the original shop owners have paid and received their allocations. He also mentioned that shops are still available for allocation to interested individuals.

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