…Orders arrest of occupants, sealing of secretariat.
… Case already fixed for judgement.
A very strange scenario played out yesterday in Owerri ,Capital of Imo state, when a bailiff,one Mr Onyekachi Uba accompanied by nine armed policemen stormed the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Imo State council, located along Port Harcourt Road, Owerri, arrested the occupants and sealed the secretariat.
The incident which has elicited widespread condemnation contradicts an earlier directive of a High Court, sitting in Owerri had cautioned the contending parties to stay away from the property until she delivers judgment in the matter.
A High Court sitting in Owerri, presided over by Hon Justice Ann Ononeze- Madu had fixed judgment for November 21, 2024. But unfortunately the court did not sit on that day and the parties are yet to get a new date.
A source who spoke to our reporter said, “it is an aberration that, despite the pendency of the matter at the High Court, the other party approached a Magistrate Court to enforce a judgment that is already being contested at the same High Court that delivered the judgment.”
The Magistrate, according to our source, may not be on the know that the matter was already pending in court.
Recall that the Nigeria Union of Journalists,NUJ had gone to Court to contest a judgment secured by former Governor Okorocha’s proxy, Enedo Holdings to take over the secretariat which they claimed to have bought from the then Chris Akaraonye- led dissident executive despite the fact that the matter about the Unions leadership tussle was pending at the National Industrial Court, Owerri Division.
Imo NUJ also approached the High Court praying that the controversial judgment to be set aside and the matter is at the verge of being concluded.
“While we were waiting for the judgment of the High Court, they came with a bailiff and policemen to arrest occupants of the secretariat and sealed off the entire property.
An Imo state High Court presided over by Hon Justice Ann Ononeze-Madu handling the case of illegal sale of Imo NUJ Press Centre along Port Harcourt Road, while hearing the matter earlier, warned the Respondents: Chris Isiguzo,Chris Akaraonye ,Juliet Dim and their associate,Enedo Enterprise reportedly owned by Rev. Godson Nlemchukwu serving under the Anglican Diocese of Ohaji-Egbema to stop their frequent invasion of the property pending the determination of the matter before it.
The court cautioned that further attempt by the Respondents to do anything that will act as an attempt to disrespect the court would attract the full wrath of the law.
The court made the order following the submissions made by the Applicants led by Comr Precious Nwadike, Steve Uzoechi, Lambert Ojukwu, Imo NUJ through their counsel, Prof Francis Dike , SAN who informed the Court about incessant harassments of NUJ members by the Respondents,Chris Akaraonye ,Juliet Dim ,Chris Isiguzo and their lawyer,Prof Okorie(SAN
The Respondents had claimed that they sold the NUJ secretariat (Press Centre ) at Port Harcourt Road, Owerri in 2021 to one Enedo Enterprises.
The Respondents were said to have sold the mighty complex to a former Governor of the state at a paltry sum of money.
They had also gotten a spurious judgement by the Enedo Enterprises which they illegally sold the property to.
Since then they have been invading the premises, laying claim to the property .
The counsel to the Applicants,Prof Dike further informed the court that the claiming of ownership by the Respondents has no legal backing, submitting that those involved in the purported transaction are not original members of the Union therefore lacked legal capacity to represent it.
He also submitted that the leadership of the Union was subject to litigation before the National Industrial Court of Nigeria ,NICN, since 2019 and wondered why the so-called representatives embarked on the illegal sale of the property in 2022.
Upon hearing the submissions of both counsels the presiding judge ruled that both parties should restrain themselves from any action that can disrupt the court process, pending the determination of the matter.
The case was adjourned to November 21 for further hearing.
When contacted, the O/C legal at the Imo State Police Headquarters said, he was not aware that the matter was at the High Court, adding that he thought that it was the same Magistrate that gave the judgment that also gave the enforcement order.
