Human Rights Activist accuses Catholic Diocese of Awka of Deceiving Court to Secure Backdoor Judgment
Human rights activist and Coordinator of the Recover Nigeria Project (RNP), Comrade Osita Obi, has accused the Catholic Diocese of Awka of deceiving the Senior Magistrate Court Grade II in Awka to obtain a judgment leading to the illegal eviction of tenants from a property located at No. 27 Seaman Avenue/Secretariat Road, Anambra State.
At a press conference held on Tuesday in Awka, the Anambra State capital, Obi issued a two-week ultimatum to the Catholic Diocese, demanding a public apology and compensation of ₦25 million for the unlawful eviction and destruction of property belonging to his wife, Mrs. Beatrice Obi.
He warned that failure to comply would compel him to seek legal redress.
Obi strongly condemned the diocese’s actions on Thursday, 31st July 2025, when his wife and five other occupants were allegedly forcibly evicted from their shops without notice or service of court documents.
He described the Diocese’s conduct as “wicked and deceptive,” accusing it of misrepresenting facts before the court.
“The Catholic Diocese of Awka lied to the court to obtain a judgment. Their actions are unjust and unholy. They forced my wife out of her shop, destroyed her goods, and caused her to be hospitalized,” Obi said.
“The Church is meant to protect and support the people, not inflict suffering. The Catholic Diocese of Awka, through deceit, obtained a purported judgment and executed it in bad faith.” he said .
Obi further claimed that the Diocese cannot be trusted, especially in light of a petition it filed on June 16, 2022, accusing his wife of being involved in criminal activities of kidnapping ,allegations which he dismissed as baseless and defamatory.
According to him,he is still waiting for police report on that before further actions.
“They once petitioned the police, falsely alleging that my wife was aiding and abetting kidnapping. How can such an institution now claim to act in good faith. My wife , a chartered accountant retired from federal inland revenue?” he asked.
Obi insisted that he is not contesting the ownership of the property, but is demanding justice for the manner in which his wife was evicted, without due legal process.
“Even if they obtained legal possession of the property, they were still obligated to serve proper notice and treat the occupants with dignity. Instead, they threw her goods out under the rain. That’s the injustice I’m fighting.”he stated.
CTC obtained
A judgment delivered on Thursday, 10th July 2025, by Senior Magistrate E.C. Chukwu in Suit No. MAW/971/2024 between the Registered Trustees of the Catholic Diocese of Awka and Unknown Persons, granting possession of the property at No. 27 Seaman Avenue to the plaintiffs was obtained through backdoor.
In the case, PW1, Mr. Okeke Mmaduabuchi Leonard, a bailiff attached to CMC Awka, testified that he served a Notice to Quit, Seven Days’ Notice of Owner’s Intention to Recover Possession, and Writ of Summons by pasting them on the defendant’s door after two failed attempts at personal service. These were tendered as Exhibits A and B.
PW2, Rev. Fr. Nicodemus Izuchukwu, the property manager for the Diocese, testified that the former priest who previously managed the property had died, after which some unknown persons occupied it. He stated that all efforts to remove them had failed, and that the Diocese now needed the property for personal use.
The court found that the defendants failed to appear or respond to the suit despite evidence of service and ruled in favor of the plaintiffs.
“It is trite law that unchallenged evidence is deemed admitted. Accordingly, I grant the plaintiff’s claims,” Magistrate Chukwu ruled.
However, Comrade Obi disputed the court’s claim of proper service. According to him, his wife was never served with any court notice, hearing summons, or judgment.
“If my wife had been served, she would have appeared in court. Nothing was ever pasted on her shop, no communication, no summons. The claim of service is false.”he added.
He also criticized the execution of the judgment, alleging that no formal notice was issued prior to the forced eviction. “The same day they claim the notice was pasted was the same day police, court officials, and bailiffs came to execute the judgment in the company the chancellor of Awka Catholic Diocese Rev father Charles Ndubusisi who was in mufti That is not justice,” he argued.
Obi however reaffirmed his demand for justice and compensation:
“This is not about property ownership. It’s about how the Catholic Diocese of Awka acted with impunity, destroying my wife’s livelihood. I will not back down. I will take this matter to the Vatican if necessary.”he added.
Another co tenant chijioke Okafor confirming obi’s clams said he was not aware of any court proceeding or judgement apart from the day they came to broke into their shops and threw out their belongings under rain .
According to him,he was still at home when they started calling him about the incident.
