A High Court sitting in the Ogidi Judicial Division has issued a restraining order against the Anambra State government, prohibiting interference in the leadership of the Nawfia community located in Njikoka Local Government Area of the state.
Presided over by Justice E.I. Ndigwe, the court delivered its verdict on Monday in Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area, condemning the Anambra State government’s interference in the community’s leadership. The judgement deemed the government’s actions of removing an elected executive and instituting a caretaker executive as arbitrary and illegal.
The court’s ruling also included an award of N5 million in costs against the Anambra State government for its actions.
The case stemmed from a legal challenge brought by the elected executives of the Nawfia Progressive Union, contesting the government’s dissolution of their executive in 2021, prior to the completion of their three-year tenure.
In delivering the judgement, Justice Ndigwe directed that the tenure of the elected executives was still ongoing and ordered their immediate reinstatement.
Following the court’s decision, Mr. Beluolisa Ikechukwu Nwafor, legal counsel to the plaintiffs, addressed journalists, saying, “This is one more case that shows impunity, great irresponsibility, and descent into lawlessness by government officials.
“They did it in Alor, and they challenged it and won. They also did it in the Agulu People’s Union and imposed a caretaker committee, and the Agulu people went to court and also won.
“Now, they proceeded to Nawfia and dissolved the elected officials of the Nawfia Progressive Union and also imposed a caretaker committee.
“Today the court has spoken and said the dissolution is illegal, the caretaker committee imposed on Nawfia people is null and void, and the exco tenure has not expired.
“The court this morning made a pronouncement—very emphatic, very unequivocal—and said the action of the government is unacceptable and that the people should go back to their offices and complete their tenure.
“It also restrained the government perpetually from doing such in any other town. Lastly, even though we asked for N50 million, the court awarded a cost of N5 million against the state government.”
