Anambra: Tension as Traders demand refund of N4bn paid for collapsed Ochanja market shops

There is an uneasy calm in Onitsha Commercial Town following the demand by traders who had already bought shops at the collapsed Ochanja Market for refund of their money.

It was confirmed that over 500 shops were sold by the duo of the contractor and the affected top government officials who were involved in construction at the rate of N 8 Million per shop totaling over N4 Billion.

The alleged sum was paid to the contractor for the construction of the collapsed building on the agreement that after completion of the project the traders would take effective occupation of their shops.

Apparently disappointed over the collapse of the building and the demolition of the second building the traders felt short changed contending that the amount paid was enough to execute a quality work accusing the government officials and contractor of sharp practices.

“Some of us went and borrowed money to pay for those shops believing that since it is a government project everything would be genuine and that the quality of work is being supervised by government agencies only to witness what happened last week”

At the moment the affected traders have commenced manhunt for the contractor and the two government officials to collect their money as Gov Charles Soludo had announced that the property remains sealed until a panel of enquiry into the collapsed building is being set up by the state government to understudy what actually happened.

“We are looking for the contractor and those two government officials that were part of the construction of the collapsed building and as we speak here their phone lines are not connecting and that means that they are on the run”

“But they cannot run forever because they are holding our money and the collapse of the buildings is not part of our agreement so they must refund us our money.

It was however gathered that the contractor had invested over N 3,5 billion on the collapsed project which has not been completed as at the time of the collapse a development that might end up in litigations.

Confirming the issue of litigations one of the traders said that some of them have already contacted their lawyers should the trio of contractor and the two government officials fail to see reasons for the refund.

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