Oko Crises Latest: Banished Man Sues Monarch, Town Union Leader For N50m

                       

A native of Oko community in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Sopulu Ezeonwuka, a legal practitioner who was among the 13 indigenes of the area that were allegedly banished by the community, has dragged the traditional ruler of the area, Igwe Laz Ekwueme and the President-General of Oko Peoples Union, OPU, Mr. Ike Nwammuo to court claiming a total sum of N50 million as general damages. 

In a statement of claim filed at Ekwulobia High Court Registry in Aguata Judicial Division, the plaintiff, through his legal counsel, Joe Onuoha is claiming the amount from the defendants for the loss and injury allegedly suffered by him on account of the banishment for life, ex-communication and ostracism meted out to him by the defendants, since March 31, 2014..

The plaintiff is also seeking a declaration of the court that the resolution taken by the General Assembly of OPU on March 31, 2014 banishing for life, ex-communicating and ostracizing him from participating in all programmes and social activities without giving him the opportunity to be heard infringed upon his fundamental rights to a fair hearing and consequently unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect.

The plaintiff further sought a court order directing the defendants to make a written apology and distribute same to the 49 wards and villages in Oko community, as weaa as read the apology by the use of public address system at Eke Oko market on an Eke market day to hearing of everybody.

An order directing the defendants to reverse his ban for life and to telecast same in Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, African Independent Television, AIT, Anambra Broadcasting Service, ABS and Channel Television, as well as publish same in three national dailies including The Sun, The Nation and Vanguard newspapers.

An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their servants and agents from further banishing for life, ostracizing and ex-communicating him or imposing fines on any Oko indigene and kindred whether male or female found dealing, communicating or transacting business with him and from further infringing in whatever manner or form with his fundamental rights of free association, thought, expression, movement, discrimination, conscience and fair hearing.

He contended that as a result of that banishment and forceful chased out of the town by the defendants' task force, his law chamber at Oko has closed down, while his clients, including one Mr. Michael Okoli who hails from Ifite Village, Oko and who lives in London, madding that Okoli had concluded an arrangement with him to buy a building at Abuja at the cost of N285 millionand promised to pay him 10 percent of the purchase price which is N25.5 million, but Okoli repudiated the contract as a result of the banishment. 

Meanwhile, the High Court No. 1 presided over by Justice Pete Obiora is expected to commence hearing in the matter after 42 days from the date of filing this claim, during which the defendants were expected to have filed their reply to the claim.

The Legal Adviser to the OPU, Uchanna Okonkwo-Okom, told newsmen in a telephone chat yesterday that their legal experts have already started preparing their reply to the claim which will be filed within a record time.

WRITTEN BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO