Human Head Saga: Tension In Anambra Government House As Hotelier Slams N3b On Anambra

 

Mr Mokwe

The Proprietor of Upper Class Hotel in Onitsha, Anambra State, Bonaventure Mokwe, has filed a N3 billion suit against the Governor of Anambra State and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Anambra State over the demolition of the hotel in August 2013.

The Upper Class Hotel located at No 8 Old Market Road, Onitsha was demolished on August 1, 2013 ostensibly on the orders of then Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, following alleged discovery of two AK 47 rifles and two human skulls in one of its rooms and the arrest of Mokwe.

 In the suit No O/200/21014 filed at the High Court of Anambra State, Onitsha Judicial Division, Mokwe is praying the court for: “A declaration that the demolition of the plaintiff’s property known as Upper Class which is situated at No 8 Old Market road , Onitsha without a court order is illegal, unlawful unconstitutional and without any legal backing;  An order directing the defendants to be paying the sum of N500, 000.00 (five hundred thousand naira only) per day from the 1st day of August 2013 until judgement is delivered and the judgment debt paid being loss of revenue and earnings from the Upper Class Hotel; and   “The total sum of N3,000,000,000.00 (three billion naira only) being special damages of N168,649,955.25 (one hundred and sixty eight Million, six hundred  and forty nine thousand, nine hundred and fifty five naira and twenty five kobo) and N2,831,350,049.75 (two billion, eight hundred and thirty-one million, three hundred and fifty thousand  and forty nine  naira seventy kobo) as general damages or the demolition of the plaintiff’s property known as Upper Class Hotel Onitsha of no. 8 Old market Road Onitsha.”

The statement of claims filed on his behalf by J.A.C. Onuoha of the Law firm of Joe Onuoha & Co Ide Chambers of 51 A Awka Road Onitsha, copy of which was obtained by Daily Independent, the plaintiff averred that prior to the demolition of his hotel, a proxy of Fidelity Bank Plc had approached the plaintiff to purchase the building and its premises at No.8 Old Market Road, Onitsha for the purpose of establishing a branch of the bank.

Daily Independent