PRESS STATEMENT
Date: May 7, 2024
CONDEMNATION OF INDORAMA’S DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR AT FEDERAL HIGH COURT, PORT HARCOURT & ATTACKS ON PLAINTIFFS IN SUIT NO: FHC/PH/CS/23/2024 ON THE 17TH APRIL, 2024
The Alliance for the Defense of Eleme vehemently condemns the reprehensible behaviour exhibited by Indorama Group at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt on April 17, 2024, in the strongest terms.
We express profound shock and dismay at the appalling acts of crude violence, harassment, and intimidation of the 70 Plaintiffs and other litigants orchestrated by Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Company Limited and the Indorama Group, the first of its kind in the history of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt which grossly violated the sanctity and majesty of the courts and disrupted legal proceedings on that day.
The violent acts of the Indorama Group were led by Indorama’s General Manager, Government and Community Affairs, Mr. Kendrick Oluka, who mobilized and led a group of armed thugs into the FHC, Port Harcourt premises, to assault the about 70 Plaintiffs, their legal counsels, other litigants and court attendees, denying them their fundamental right to seek legal recourse, marks a grave violation of democratic principles and the rule of law.
Amidst the orchestrated pandemonium, the armed group engaged in large-scale theft and extortion, which led to the theft of cash, phones, and other personal belongings.
This criminal behaviour of Indorama, demonstrates a complete disregard for civility, respect for the rule of law, and the rights of individuals to a fair hearing, liberty, and property.
The people of Alesa and indeed Eleme in general refuse to be cowed by these cowardly acts of violence.
While we condemn Indorama’s actions in their entirety, we affirm our commitment to respond to their acts of violence, vandalism, and theft with utmost seriousness.
However, our response will be conducted in a civilized manner, not akin to those like Indorama.
The Alliance emphasizes the need for justice to prevail and for those responsible for the heinous acts to be held accountable.
We urgently call upon law enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate and prosecute the General Manager of Government and Community Affairs of Indorama Group, Mr. Kendrick Oluka, the management hierarchy of the Indorama Group, and all others involved in the disruptive criminal acts of 17th April 2024.
We urge the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt to enhance its security measures to prevent similar invasions of the court premises and attendant abrasive violations of the rights of litigants in the future.
The court must remain a bastion of peace and justice, safeguarded against any form of, militancy, and disruption of proceedings.
Furthermore, we want it on record that the court order restraining Indorama from engaging in any form of production activity that pollutes the environment is still subsisting and binding, despite the notoriously misleading claims made by Indorama’s Head of Corporate Communication.
We reiterate our commitment to upholding the principles of equity and justice and encourage all well-meaning individuals and organizations to stand with us in this endeavor.
Johnson Emere Mba-Ngei
Leader
Alliance for the Defence of Eleme
