Magistrate Court 1 sitting in Nnobi, Idemili South local government area of Anambra State, under Chief Magistrate Kenneth Nwoye, has sent the President General of Nnobi community, Barr Dominic-Savio Okpala to Onitsha Correctional Center (Onitsha Prison) over contempt charges.
Awuda, one of the quaters in Nnobi, had dragged the PG to court over his attempt to review the Constitution of the town against laid down procedures.
The court, then, granted the order restraining the PG from organizing any meeting, or reviewing the town’s constitution. But the PG did not only hold the meeting and reviewed the Constitution, but also went ahead to submit the Constitution to Anambra State government; and also slammed a fine of two hundred thousand naira to each of the plaintiffs that dragged him to court.
When the matter came up on Tuesday, April 8, Chief Magistrate Nwoye blamed the PG for organizing the meeting of 31st December, 2024, against the order of the court. He also blamed the P.G for punishing the plaintiffs by slamming fine on them for dragging him to court; saying that the P.G had no powers to punish the people for seeking redress in the court of law.
Chief Magistrate Nwoye, who reminded the P.G that Contempt of Court is a criminal offence, maintained that the P.G did not show remorse for his actions, and therefore, deserved no mercy.
He, therefore, ordered that he be remanded at the Onitsha Correctional Center, pending the time he would purge himself of the contempt charges.
Speaking after the court, counsel to the plaintiffs, Barr. Martins Okeke, told our Correspondent that the P.G wanted to review the town’s constitution in December, 2024, but Awuda community, through their representatives, told him that 2024 meeting was an annual representative general meeting, which lacked the power to review the constitution.
He said Awuda notified the P.G that power to review constitution of the community rests on Quadrannial Conference of the town, which takes place every four years.
He said, “Last time Quadrannial Conference was held in Nnobi was in 2023, and the next is 2027. But the PG insisted that he must review the Constitution in 2024, because, he said that the Anambra State Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftancy and Community Affairs, Hon. Tony-Collins Nwabunwanne, supported him to do so.
“But when was preparing for the meeting for the review of the Constitution, my clients approached the court, seeking an order restraining him from doing so. But he did not only hold the meeting against the court order, but he went further to submit the said reviewed Constitution to the state government, through the commissioner. He did not end there. He went ahead to slam a fine of three hundred thousand naira to Awuda as a community; and also fined each of the three plaintiffs to the tune of two hundred thousand naira each.
“So, we reported the development to court, which quickly started contempt proceedings against the P.G. On March 20, 2025, the court gave ruling on the contempt charges, and convicted the P.G
“The court, however, reserved sentencing for April 8, saying that if the P.G would purge himself of the contempt charges preferred against him by withdrawing the fines slammed on the plaintiffs, and withdrawing the supposed reviewed Constitution, the court would find a way of helping him.
“However, instead of doing what the court expected of him, he rather created a peace conference for the entire Nnobi town. Because of this, we filed an affidavit, telling the court that the P.G embarked on a jamboree, instead of doing what the court told him to do; because, he had no case with Nnobi as a town but with Awuda.
“So, today, the court found merit on what we’re saying. So, haven convicted the P.G of contempt of court on March 20th this year, the court proceeded to remand him at the prison custody, pending the time he will purge himself of the contempt charges hanging on his neck.”
A stakeholder in the community, who spoke with our Correspondent, hailed the court judgement, saying that the PG’s actions and inactions were such that were capable of puting the town into disarray.
Also, a former President General of the town, Ichie Ezeobianumba Ajaghaku, who is also the traditional ruler’s Palace Secretary, hailed the judgement, saying that it would serve as determent to others, who would assume they’re above the law. He also said that the court was too lenient not to have slammed maximum prison sentence on the P.G
Another, Stakeholder of Ebenesi Community, blamed the PG for ignoring court order, and for reviewing the town’s constitution when the time is not rife.
He, however, asked that Nnobi should pursue lasting peace, suggesting that abnitio, there was no peace in the town, and therefore, anybody, who is not doing the right thing, should retrace his step.
Also speaking a Stakeholder of Ngo quarter, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said that the PG reaped what he sowed; adding that whatever any man does has consequences.
