A High Court sitting in the Ogidi Judicial Division has barred the Anambra State government from interfering in the leadership of the Nawfia community in Njikoka Local Government Area of the state.
The court, presided over by Justice E.I. Ndigwe, in a judgement on Monday in Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area, condemned the Anambra State government for interfering in the leadership of the community by removing an elected executive and inaugurating a caretaker executive.
The judge, while delivering judgement on the matter, also awarded a cost of N5 million against the Anambra State government for arbitrary action.
Elected executives of Nawfia Progressive Union had dragged the Anambra State governor to court for dissolving the executive in 2021, before the expiration of their three-year tenure.
Justice Ndigwe, in the judgement, directed that the tenure of the executive was still running while also calling for their reinstatement.
Council to the plaintiffs, Mr Beluolisa Ikechukwu Nwafor, who spoke to journalists after the sitting, said: “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.”