A Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, on Friday awarded N100 million damages against the expelled former National Vice-Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, South East, Ali Odefa.
The court also restrained the former National Vice Chairman and police from arresting and intimidating the party’s ward executives.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that Odefa was expelled from the PDP on December 12, 2024 by the executives of the party in Oguduokwor Ward after a disciplinary committee of the party recommended his expulsion, having found him guilty of sundry anti-party activities.
NAN reports that 20 members of the PDP and the executives of the party in Oguduokwor Ward, Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State had approached the court in Suit Number: FHC/AI/CS/FHR/197, against Odefa.
Also joined in the suit were the Commissioner of Police in the state and the Inspector General of Police.
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The plaintiffs included Herbert Onyedikachi, Anoke Egbe, Njoku Nwagu, Moses Idika, Ogbonnaya Idika, Obinna Chukwu, John Igboke, Ijeoma Nome, Okorie C. Okorie, and nine others (applicants).
They approached the court seeking for the enforcement of their fundamental human rights against the alleged false and malicious accusations levelled against them with the police by Odefa.
In his ruling, Justice Hilary Oshomah held that Odefa had “maliciously” used the police against the defendants.
Oshomah ordered Odefa to pay N5 million to each of the defendants, making a total of N100 million, being general damages and N2 million as cost to the applicants comprising the executives of the PDP in Ogwudokwor Ward.
He further held: “Odefa and the police are now restrained from harassing, arresting or in any form intimidating the defendants on the issue of his suspension from the PDP.”
The court further ordered that the damages cost must be paid within seven days of the judgement.
Failure to pay, according to the court, will attract 10 percent daily interest.”
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