Ohanaeze Ndigbo Initiates Contempt Charges against Obioha, Chukwujama

The leadership crisis rocking the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, yesterday deepened as the Enugu State High Court commenced a contempt proceedings against the Chairman and Secretary of the factional caretaker committee, Chief Raph Obioha and Dr. Zed Chukwujama respectively for allegedly disobeying the orders of the court restraining them from parading themselves of officers of the organisation.

The duo were described as contemnors in suit number: E/513/2014 pursuant to Section 71 of Sheriffs and Civil Process Law Cap 143 laws of Enugu State 2004, and Order 10, Rule 13 judgment (Enforcement) Rules Cap 144 laws of Enugu State 2004.

The court, in a suit instituted by the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Gary Enwo Igariwey and his Secretary, Dr. Joe Nwaorgu, issued a notice to show cause why order of committal should not an be made against the two Ohanaeze chieftains.

When contacted however, Obioha denied knowledge of the contempt proceedings.

The notice dated February 25, 2015 and signed by the Director of Litigations and Court Services of Enugu State High Court, V. A. Aneke, urged the contemnors to take notice that the applicants will tomorrow apply to the court for an order for the committal of Chief Raph Obioha and Dr. Zed Chukwujama to prison for having disobeying the order of this court made on December 18, 2014, as served on them through service of Form 48 dated December 29, 2014.

The notice equally made them to understand that they are required to compulsorily attend the court on the mentioned day to show cause why an order for their committal should not be granted.

In his application to commit Obioha and Chukwujama to prison, Igariwey accused them of being lawless, misinforming the public and are trying to bring the revered image of the organisation to public odium, especially at this critical stage of our nation building, when individual interests and personal animosity should be sacrificed in the altar of the unity and sanctity of the leadership of Ndigbo.

While expressing his disappointment on the behaviour of the duo through a litigation counsel at the chambers of OAU Onyema & Co, Igariwey said the action was as a result of their perceived willful disobedience to the court’s order of Interim Injunction.

“That on December 18, 2014, the High Court of Enugu State sitting before Justice R.O. Odugu gave an interim order of injunction as follows: a. That the 1st -5th defendants and their agents or privies are hereby restrained from conducting any election for Ohanaeze Ndigbo and/or creating any third party interest in the National Executive of Ohanaeze Ndigbo pending the determination of motion on notice. (b) That the defendants either by themselves, agents, or privies are hereby restrained from making any further public statement, media publication or announcements on behalf of the purported national election committee as constituted by the 1st defendant pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice”.