Justice Hilary Oshomah of the Federal High Court, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, on Friday, awarded a sum of N100 million against the expelled former National Vice-Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), South-East, Ali Odefa.
The court also restrained the police and Odefa from arresting or intimidating the party’s ward executives in the state.
Odefa was expelled from the PDP by the party’s executives in Oguduokwor Ward in Onicha Local Government Area of the State on December 12, 2024, after a disciplinary committee recommended his expulsion for anti-party activities.
At least 20 members of the PDP and executives in Oguduokwor Ward sued Odefa in Suit No: FHC/AI/CS/FHR/197.
The plaintiffs were Herbert Onyedikachi, Anoke Egbe, Njoku Nwagu, Moses Idika, Ogbonnaya Idika, Obinna Chukwu, John Igboke, Mrs Ijeoma Nome, Okorie C. Okorie, and nine others.
Also joined in the suit were the state’s Commissioner of Police and the Inspector-General of Police.
They approached the court to enforce their fundamental human rights against the alleged false and malicious accusations leveled against them by Odefa.
In his ruling, Justice Oshomah held that Odefa had “maliciously” used the police against the plaintiffs.
He ordered Odefa to pay N5 million to each of the plaintiffs in general damages and N2 million as cost to the PDP executives in Ogwudokwor Ward.
“Odefa and the police are now restrained from harassing, arresting, or in any form intimidating the defendants on the issue of his suspension from the PDP.
“The court further ordered that the damages cost must be paid within seven days of the judgement. Failure to pay will attract 10 percent daily interest,” he added.