Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
A Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State has awarded N100, 000, 000 (one hundred million) damages against the expelled National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) South-East Zone, Ali Odefa.
20 members of PDP, including Executives of the party in Oguduokwor Ward in Onicha Local Government Area of the state had approached the court in Suit No: FHC/AI/CS/FHR/197 between: Hon. Herbert Onyedikachi, Hon Anoke, Egbe, Njoku Nwagu, Moses Idika, Ogbonnaya Idika, Obinna Chukwu, Chief John Igboke, Mrs. Ijeoma Nome, Okorie C. Okorie and nine others as Applicants and Odefa, the Commissioner of Police Ebonyi State and the Inspector General of Police for the enforcement of their fundamental human rights over allegations against them by Odefa.
Odefa had accused them of forging documents purporting his suspension as the National Vice Chairman of PDP, South-East
Ruling on the suit, the presiding Judge, Justice Hilary I. O. Oshomah held that Odefa had “maliciously” used the police against the defendants by making criminal accusations against the applicants in a civil political matter.
The court held that Odefa who had alleged in his statement to the police that the defendants forged documents to suspend him as a member of the PDP in Oguduokwor Ward failed to show proof of any form of forgery in the court to support his claims.
The court, therefore, issued an order restraining Odefa and the police from harassing, arresting or in any form intimidating the defendants on the issue of his suspension from the PDP, Oguduokwor Ward.
It awarded damages in the sum of N5, 000, 000 (five million naira) to each of the 20 defendants totaling N100, 000,000 (one hundred million).
The court further ordered that the cost must be paid within seven (7) days of the judgement, failure to pay, according to the court will attract 10% daily interest.
At the ruling, the OC Legal of the Nigeria Police, Ebonyi State Command, Benson Emenike, was in the court to represent the Commissioner of Police, while Odefa’s counsel was absent despite receiving earlier sitting notice from the court.
Odefa was expelled from the PDP on December 12, 2024, by the Executives of PDP Oguduokwor Ward after a disciplinary committee of the party recommended his expulsion having found him guilty of sundry anti-party activities.
