A Kaduna State High Court sitting in Zaria yesterday struck out a case instituted by hoteliers and proprietors of beer parlours challenging the decision of Sabon Gari Local Government Area requiring them to renew their licenses.
Sabon Gari Local Government recently directed all owners of hotels and beer parlours to renew their licenses or risk revocation.
The local government authority however attached stringent conditions, one of which was for the hotels and beer parlour owners to have the consent of their host communities.
Not satisfied with the conditions, the hoteliers and beer parlour owners instituted the case before Justice Kabir Dabo of High Court 1, Dogarawa, Zaria, on June 11, asking for an ex-parte interim injunction restraining the local government from stopping/closing of beer parlours, sale of liquor and brothels operations.
Mr. Ezenobi Godwin and Mr. Adeola Sunday had during the previous sittings told the court that they instituted the case on behalf of themselves and all members of the Hoteliers and Beer Parlour Proprietors Association in the local government.
The court ordered that status quo ante be maintained and also ordered the defendants to file appearance and response to the summons within seven days.
However, counsel to Sabon Gari Local Government, Mohammed Yahuza, yesterday told the court that the case was adjourned for hearing of the substantive application, but neither the plaintiffs nor their counsel were in court.
After inquiries from the registrar, he confirmed the non-availability of the plaintiffs or any official communication from them, coupled with the application by counsel of the defendants for the case to be struck out, Justice Dabo concluded that the actions of the plaintiffs showed that they were not interested in prosecuting the matter.
In his ruling, Justice Dabo said he struck out the case for want of diligent prosecution. He also granted an application from the defendants for a vacation of the restraining order earlier issued by the court.
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