A Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, has awarded ₦100 million in damages against the National Vice-Chairperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) South-East, Ali Odefa, for alleged police harassment and intimidation of party members.
The ruling, delivered on Friday by Justice Hilary Oshomah, came in response to consolidated fundamental rights suits filed by PDP members from Oguduokwor Ward in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Naija News reports that Herbert Onyedikachi and four others, alongside Sabastine Idenyi and 13 others, approached the court seeking redress for what they termed as undue harassment instigated by Odefa.
The plaintiffs claimed that Odefa falsely accused them of forging documents used to suspend him as the PDP National Vice-Chairperson South-East.
Although the PDP National Working Committee later nullified Odefa’s suspension, the plaintiffs alleged continued harassment through police invitations and intimidation.
Delivering judgment, Justice Oshomah condemned Mr Odefa for what he described as the “malicious” use of police to harass the applicants in a civil-political dispute.
“The use of the police to intimidate these individuals for a purely political matter is a gross abuse of power,” the judge stated.
The court held that Odefa failed to substantiate his claim of forgery against the plaintiffs and noted that police involvement in the matter was inappropriate, as the case was already sub judice.
Justice Oshomah issued a perpetual injunction restraining Odefa and the police from further harassing, arresting, or intimidating the applicants in connection with his suspension from the PDP Oguduokwor Ward.
The court also ordered Odefa to pay ₦5 million in damages to each of the 20 plaintiffs, amounting to ₦100 million. An additional N2 million was awarded as costs against him for the harassment and attempted arrests.
“That ₦100 million is hereby awarded as general damages against Ali Odefa, and ₦2 million as costs in favour of the applicants in these consolidated suits,” the judge ruled.
The court directed that the damages be paid within seven days of the judgment. Failure to comply would attract a 10 per cent daily interest.
The commissioner of police in Ebonyi State was represented in court by Benson Emenike, a member of the Police Command’s legal team. However, Odefa’s counsel was absent despite prior notification.