…As aggrieved parties agree to move to govt. slaughter facility.
The protracted crisis in the Ibom Butchers Association which has prevented the movement of members to the state government approved abattoir in itam is soon to be over as parties involved in the matter have unanimously agreed for an out of court settlement to enable meat butchers move to the butcher facility built by the state government.
This is sequel to the intervention by the House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources in a meeting held Tuesday at the House of Assembly complex with parties in the matter, even as aggrieved parties have agreed that a management committee that will include representatives from both the government and the aggrieved parties taking in cognizance the various units, families and groups in the meat butchering business be properly accommodated at the Itam abattoir.
Those in attendance at the meeting were the executive and members of Ibom Butchers Association, led by Chief Mbebeng, and Chief Tom, counsel to the plaintiff, Barr. Nsikak Effiong, representative of the state Attorney General, Barr. Emem Uyire, Barr. Enefiok Ekenson representing Universal abattoir, as well as representatives of meat butchers from the Hausa community who all bared their minds on the matter. The butchers stated their readiness for an amicable out of court settlement.
The agreement was brokered by Rt. Hon. Mark Esset, Chairman of the Committee and member representing Nsit Atai State Constituency who informed that the governor was ready to open the facility for use as soon as the butchers were ready to settle their differences and embrace peace.
Speaking at the meeting held at the assembly, the parties expressed regret that the seven year old protracted court battle between the Ibom Butchers Association and Akwa Ibom State government has led to several loses to for members, but stated their readiness to embrace peace in order for them to relocate to the modern abattoir provided by the state government. On his part, counsel to the plaintiff, Barr. Nsikak Effiong briefed the House Committee on the legal processes that has seen his clients through the seven year court battle, and pleaded that the out of court settlement should accommodate the expenses incurred in the course of seeking legal redress by the aggrieved parties.
He said told the committee chairman that he was not adverse to the amicable settlement of the grievances as enunciated by the butchers, but pleaded that the matter be settled in such a way that would be beneficial and acceptable by all.
Addressing the meeting, Chairman of the House Committee, Hon. Mark Esset, thanked the parties and the legal team for accepting an amicable resolution of the year long crisis, saying the House of Assembly decided to wade into the matter because as a responsive legislature, the House was worried that several years after government had sunk huge resources to build a modern abattoir at Itam, the facility has not been put to use. He said it is the desire of the House of Assembly to see the abattoir fully operational, and thanked the parties for honouring his invitation.
Hon. Esset who is representing Nsit Atai in the House explained that his committee was protecting any individual interest, but that the overall interest of the state.
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