Women stand infront of incomplete center in protest against local court order to demolish building

The Women’s Association in Nimule has petitioned a local court order for the demolition of its building under construction in the border town.

According to Grace Keje, who is the Nimule Town Council Women’s leader, the Association had sought support from the UN Mission in South Sudan, UNMISS to construct the center.

The land was offered to the group by a landlady named Asienzo, but another man identified as Wani William claimed the land belonged to his late father,  resulting in the contest over the ownership.

“Because of this, Wani summoned us [Women association] in the office of the Head Chief Alira William. We received the summoned letter, we went to attend to the accusation.”

However, on August 10, the Payam B Court ruled in favor of complainant William and ordered the demolition of the center, a decision the women rejected and appealed against the case.

Responding to the protest, Both Philip who is the lawyer of Wani Willian urged the women’s group to abide by the court order or make a court appeal.

“The order of the high court is that the place is 70 by 70 square given to the family of the late Ernesto Onyei in 1974. These people have settled in that place for almost 49 years and the Nimule Women Association have to evacuate the place immediately.

“So, my message to them is that, let court procedures follow smoothly, and if there’s anyone who does not agree with this court order, should go to the court of appeal. That’s court procedures and we are to implement the laws.”

However,  Advocate Beda K. Anthony who represented the women wrote to the Court of Appeal to overturn the decision saying the Payam Court didn’t follow due process of the law.

In his written statement dated 31st of August, he argued that the person who passed the judgment was from another Payam, not Nimule and that the accused was not given a fair hearing.

Lawyer Anthony said another reason is that the suing in court should have also applied to four other organizations existing on the same land adding that Cjief refused to give a copy of the judgment.