An Enugu State High Court will begin hearing today (Monday) on the contempt charges against leaders of a group claiming to be Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
This follows the publication of the substituted service on the defendants, as ordered by Justice H.O. Eya, after hearing an ex-parte motion filed by the plaintiff in Suit No: E/878/2022.
The order for substituted service was granted on February 20, 2024, and carried out on July 9, 2024, by the plaintiff, Ambassador Okey Emuchay, the Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
Emuchay brought the case against four defendants: Chidi Ibeh, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Prince Richard Ozobu, and Nnabuike Okwu, who have been representing themselves as leaders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
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The court order states: “That the factional group of the defendants/respondents, their agents, servants, privies, workers, youth wing or any person or group acting on their behalf are hereby restrained/barred from parading themselves or representing themselves in any function either physically or through the aid of any medium of communication as the President General and Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, pending the determination of the substantive suit.”
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In Form 48, dated March 15, 2023, notifying the defendants of the consequences of disobeying the court order, Okechukwu Isiguzoro was specifically identified as the “contemnor.”
Isiguzoro, who claims to be the “Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide,” has been issuing numerous press statements, purportedly speaking on behalf of the apex Igbo sociocultural organization.
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If found guilty of contempt of court, the defendants could face imprisonment, as Form 48 served to them states: “Unless you obey the directions contained in this order, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison.”
