A Federal High Court in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, has ordered Ali Odefa, the former National Vice-Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Southeast Zone, to pay N100 million in damages following his expulsion from the party.
The ruling was delivered on Friday, with the court also issuing an injunction preventing Odefa and the police from arresting or intimidating members of the PDP Ward Executives in Oguduokwor Ward, Onicha Local Government Area.
Odefa was expelled from the PDP on December 12, 2024, after a disciplinary committee found him guilty of engaging in activities contrary to the party’s interests.
Following his expulsion, 20 PDP members, including the Executives from Oguduokwor Ward, filed a lawsuit (Suit No: FHC/AI/CS/FHR/197) against Odefa, the Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi, and the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
The plaintiffs, led by Herbert Onyedikachi, Anoke Egbe, Njoku Nwagu, and others, sought legal redress for the alleged false and malicious accusations made by Odefa that led to police involvement.
Justice Hilary Oshomah ruled that Odefa had “maliciously” used the police to harass the defendants, ordering him to pay N5 million in damages to each of the plaintiffs, totaling N100 million.
Odefa was also ordered to pay N2 million in costs to the applicants.
Additionally, the court ordered that the damages be paid within seven days of the judgment, with a penalty of 10 percent interest per day for any delay in payment.
The court further restrained Odefa and the police from any form of harassment, arrest, or intimidation of the defendants regarding his suspension from the PDP.
