Country Club Developers (CCD), one of the luxury real state developers in the country, lost its case at the Constitutional Inquiry Council over disputed housing units.

The constitutional interpretation advisory body, chaired by Chief Justice Meaza Ashenafi, rejected the appeal of CCD during a hearing on April 3, 2019. The Council closed the case, citing that it did not amount to a constitutional question.

In a letter bearing Meaza's signature and issued on April 9, 2019, the ruling lifted the injunction it passed on the Court's ruling that ordered the real estate developer to deliver the houses to the home buyers. The Council injuncted the High Court's decision two months ago when CCD filed an appeal to have the case reviewed.

In its appeal filed on February 14, 2019, CCD claimed that the Federal High Court does not have jurisdiction to preside over the case, since the disputed homes are located in Legtafo Legedadi City Administration, Oromia Regional State.

"Immovable properties should be adjudicated in a court where the properties are located," reads CCD's appeal to the Council. "Thus, Oromia Supreme Court should review the case."

Though some of the litigants are non-nationals, which makes it a federal case, CCD argued that the Constitution had delegated powers of the Federal High Court to the regional supreme courts.

"Since the classification of power and jurisdiction of courts is a constitutional matter, the case needs to be reviewed by the Council," reads CCD's appeal.

The Council, which has been reviewing the case for the past two months, dismissed CCD's appeal and lifted its injunction over the transfer of the homes two weeks ago.

Before the injunction order, the home buyers were awaiting the delivery of the disputed homes when the Execution Court set February 14, 2019, as a deadline for the delivery. The case has been tossed around through a bitter legal battle that has already taken over eight years.

The home buyers bought the homes between 2006 and 2007, paying between 1.7 million Br to 3.1 million Br with a delivery date set 18 months after the contract execution. The homes are located in Legatafo, 11Km northeast of the capital.