You Lack Power to Dissolve Association Executives—Court Tells Onitsha South LGA Chairman
Hon. Emeka Orji , Executive Chairman of Onitsha South Local Government Area.
By Sunny A. David, Awka
The Federal High Court sitting in Awka has nullified the dissolution of the elected executive members of the Onitsha South Landlords’ Association (Fegge Layout) by Hon. Emeka Orji as the Transition Committee Chairman of Onitsha South Local Government Area.
Delivering judgment in Suit No. FHC/AWK/CS/236/2024 on Friday, June 27, 2025, Justice Evelyn N. Anyadike held that the Chairman lacked the statutory authority to dissolve the association’s executives and appoint a caretaker committee in their place.
The Incorporated Trustees of the Onitsha South Landlords’ Association, along with four of its executive members—Mazi Samuel Ezeilo, Elder Joseph Okafor, Prince Rex Wilson Anyoaha, and Hon. Ndubuisi Umeh had instituted legal action against Orji and ten others, including the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
The plaintiffs challenged the dissolution of their leadership, which took place on March 25, 2024, during a meeting convened by the Chairman at the Onitsha South Local Government Secretariat, Fegge.
They contended that the imposition of a caretaker committee violated their constitutional rights and encroached upon the association’s internal governance.
In her ruling, Justice Anyadike declared the purported dissolution null and void, stating it was executed without legal authority.
She further held that the appointment of the 2nd to 8th respondents as caretaker committee members by the 1st respondent was unconstitutional and constituted a blatant infringement on the association’s autonomy.
The court also issued a perpetual injunction restraining the respondents, their agents, and assigns from parading themselves as caretaker committee members of the association.
The court also awarded N1million in general damages to the applicants, led by Prince Rex Wilson Anyoaha, against the respondents.
The judgment is considered a landmark decision affirming the autonomy of registered associations and curtailing unlawful interference by government officials in their internal affairs.
