The Imo Cooperatives Federation Limited has expressed confidence that it would triumph in a dispute with the state government over a property it claims to own in Owerri, the Imo state capital.

The Federation’s President, Elder Hypolite Uzoka, said this when he interacted with C-Advocate correspondent in Owerri, on Thursday.

Uzoka, while expressing knowledge in the “superior understanding “ of the Court before which the matter is being heard, said that judgement will surely prevail” .

He noted that Cooperators in Imo have a tall history, having ownership of many properties including the popular warehouse building which sits on the Orlu-Owerri road.

He however said that the property was sold off to the erstwhile Rochas Okorocha – led

Imo government through the wrong hands and subsequently handed over to a former Imo Senator , Benjamin Uwajumogu (now late), who would convert the place into an asphalt plant before it eventually was used for other purposes.

He said that the Federation “never sold the property nor revoked its ownership “, since it considered the property and many others as legacies and a heritage of the federation, being that “our parents fed from them before we took over from them.

“ I have absolute confidence in what the Court can do; the judge appears very forthright and I strongly believe that justice will be served in this matter.

“ The place of cooperatives in the economy of the state is nonnegotiable.

“ Government should, as a matter of responsibility, step in and join hands with cooperatives to recover property while providing the enabling environment for ours and other economic development opportunities in the state “, he said.

C- Advocate reports that judgement in the matter is expected to come soon.

He however, thanked the state governor, Sen. Hope Uzodinma , for helping to resolve a 15 -year- old leadership crisis upon his assumptions of office as Governor.