N68m Isolation Centre Contract Debt: Court Admits 17 Exhibits Against UCTH

A High court sitting in Calabar and presided over by Hon Justice Angela Obi has begun the pre-trial in the N68 million contract debt on the construction of an isolation centre instituted against University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH, management by a contractor, Obi Achara Nigeria Ltd.

The court in suit No: HC/316/2020 further admitted 17 exhibits against the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital as their counsel failed to appear in court.

However, the Principal legal officer of the UCTH, Umoh Edem Efa, who was in court was asked to ensure that their counsel was present on the next adjourned date. 

The suit arose from the contract for the construction of an Isolation Centre in the institution which was carried out  by the contractors but payment has not been made.

It was gathered that the payment was not made even after the centre was handed over to the management of UCTH by the Managing Director of Obi Achara Nigeria Ltd, Mr James Obi Achara in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak.

The court had earlier stood down the matter to allow parties settle  out of court, which did not work out as the parties failed to agree on how the debt should be paid.

Counsel to the claimant, Mba Ukweni SAN, prayed the court to proceed with the pre-trial because the defendants have not shown seriousness about settlement.

He said the claimants have tendered their documents and in accordance with the doctrine of fair hearing the management of the hospital has been given another chance to come and defend themselves.

“It means they were not prepared to defend the case, they had requested for settlement of the matter and the court indulged them a number of times.

“The settlement failed which was accordingly reported to the court  so for now we should proceed to the business of the day,” Ukweni said.

Principal Legal Officer of UCTH, Umoh Edem Efa, told the court that he was aware of the proposed settlement which failed, and needed to go and peruse the file which had just been handed over to him.

The presiding judge, Hon Justice Angela Obi, went ahead with the pre-trial and she admitted 17 exhibits against the defendant before adjourning the case to March 24 for continuation of the pre-trial.

The judge further asked the Principal legal officer, Umoh Edem Efa to ensure their counsel was in court at the next sitting.