Leadnaija
A Federal High Court in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, has imposed a fine of N100 million in damages on Ali Odefa, the expelled former National Vice-Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Southeast Zone. According to Guardian.ng.
The ruling, which was delivered on Friday, also includes an order preventing Odefa and the police from arresting or intimidating the executives of the party’s Ward in Oguduokwor, Onicha Local Government Area.
Odefa had been expelled from the PDP on December 12, 2024, following accusations of involvement in various anti-party activities. The expulsion was decided by the party’s executives after a disciplinary committee found him guilty.
Subsequently, 20 PDP members, along with the party’s executives from Oguduokwor Ward, filed a lawsuit against Odefa. This legal action, identified as Suit No: FHC/AI/CS/FHR/197, also named the Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi State and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) as defendants.
The plaintiffs sought the court’s intervention to protect their fundamental human rights, claiming that Odefa had maliciously used the police to accuse them falsely. In his ruling, Justice Hilary Oshomah found Odefa’s actions to be malicious and ordered him to pay N5 million in damages to each of the 20 plaintiffs, totaling N100 million.
Additionally, Odefa was ordered to pay N2 million in legal costs. The court further stipulated that these amounts should be paid within seven days of the ruling, with a 10% daily interest for any delay beyond that period.
The court also issued a restraining order against both Odefa and the police, preventing them from harassing or intimidating the PDP members involved in the case.Tap Here for the Full Story
