His Excellency Charles Chukwuma Soludo
Traders at the Onitsha Main Market have erupted in jubilation following a High Court ruling restraining Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Charles Soludo, from proceeding with the planned demolition of sections of the market, Throwback Times Nigeria learned.
Justice Joseph Ifeanyi Nweze of the Anambra State High Court issued the order halting the proposed demolition and remodelling exercise which was scheduled to begin 1st March 2026.
The court also restrained the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, the Commissioner of Police, and the Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, who were listed as respondents in the suit.
The case, filed under Ref No: O/MISC.35/2026, was instituted by Izuchukwu Paul Madubuko and six other applicants acting on behalf of themselves, traders, and occupants of Human Fence Zone 1 Line in the market. The plaintiffs were represented by Nnamdi Ibegbu (SAN).
In the ruling dated February 25, 2027, and obtained on Saturday, the court ordered that the status quo be maintained pending the determination of the substantive suit.
Governor Soludo had earlier directed the immediate remodelling of the Onitsha Main Market, describing the move as a “hard, but necessary” step aimed at repositioning the market for the future.
The court’s intervention has, however, brought temporary relief to affected traders, many of whom feared displacement and loss of livelihood.
