The crisis rocking Okija Town Union, Lagos branch, has snowballed into legal battle, as four aggrieved members, Mrs Amaka Anyanmene Chief Oliver Ikebude, Mrs Hellen Ikebude and Mr Chritsopher Ibekwe sued its President, Mr Lawrence Ikechukwu Ukachukwu before a Federal high court in Lagos.
Joined as co-defendants in the ensuing legal hostility are the former President of the women wing Mrs Veronika Ezekude, Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police Lagos Command, ACP Saliu Khan for Inspector of Police monitoring unit Force Abuja and Area Commander, Area E Police Command Amuwo Odofin Festac Town Lagos state, Lagos division.
In an affidavit sworn to by Mrs Amaka Anyanmene in support of the fundamental enforcement right suit file before the court by law firm of Ngwu, Oyedokun & Associates, she averred that sometimes in May 2017 an issue of mismanagement of unions fund was raised against Mrs Veronica Ezekude who was President of women wing then giving rise to majority of members calling for proper account and audited financial reports to be rendered by their executives before handing over to the new executives to be elected by them.
That unknown to her and other members including the other three applicants calling for financial records was calling for war hence battle line was drawn against them by Mr Ukachukwu and Mrs Ezekude who saw no need for proper reconciliation of records.
To compound the situation several inconsistent and contradictory records and estimates were brought before them which was rejected on the floor of the union during a meeting.
Thereafter on the 13 May 2018, police invaded the town hall venue during a meeting at Amuwo Odofin, Festac Town to harass and intimidate the members.
Mrs Anyanmene averred further that she was detained for two days on the instruction of Mr Ukachukwu and Mrs Ezekude.
She explains that have been other attempts to arrest and detain her by Inspector General of Police Monitoring Unit Force Headquarters.
She no longer attends union meeting and have continue to live in fear, she says.
Consequently, the applicant while claiming damages in the sum of N1 million for the loss of income she suffered during her time in detention, urged the court to restrain the respondents and their agents from needless harassment and unreasonable threat to arrest and detain her by the police.
However, in a counter-affidavit sworn to by Mr. Ukachukwu and filed before the court, he averred that Mrs Amaka Anyamene, Chief Oliver Ikebude and Mrs Hellen Ikebude were former members of Okija Town Union until 13 May 2013 when the governing body of the union unanimously took a decision to expel them as members of the union over some cases of gross misconduct against them, he denied the allegation leveled against him as false and fabricated falsehood and misleading statements aimed at confusing the court.
Mr Ukachukwu averred further that sometimes in 2017, elections were slated for various positions into the women’s wing of the union, Mrs Veronica Ezekude as the outgoing president appointed one Mrs Chinenye Ezeokoli as the returning officer.
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Mrs Ezeokoli then called for nomination for the post of president and only two candidate were nominated, three of the applicants were present and participated fully in the process.
At the conclusion of the election, the first and third applicants Mrs Anayamene and Mrs Ikebude having failed to install their preferred candidate decided to stall further elections into other positions because of the ensuing chaos, further elections were stopped.
However, the executive committee of the union in a meeting attended by all the village chairman after a careful review of the complaints and memoranda found the complaints of the first and the third applicants as devoid of merit.
Thereafter another election was scheduled for 13 May 2018 but failure to compromise him to cancel the proposed election resulted to blackmail, and as a result of their threat he requested for the presence of the police.
On the day of the election, the three applicants broke into the venue and were subsequently invited to Area E police command Festac Town for amicable settlement.
Thereafter Mrs Anayemene petitioned Nigerian Police in Alagbon, while he petitioned the Inspector General of Police due to the way the matter was handled at Alagbon Consequent of the counter petition, they were invited by Inspector General of Police, but rather than honour the invitation, the applicant rush to this court to institute this suit alleging breach of their fundamental right.
The presiding judge, Saliu Saidu has adjourned the case till 7 May 2019 for hearing.
