Awka Diocese vs Obi:Court Delay Sparks Activist Outrage

The absence of the Chief Magistrate of the Awka Magistrate Court, sitting at Amawbia in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, on Monday stalled the hearing of a defamation suit filed by the Awka Catholic Diocese against rights activist, Comrade Osita Obi.

In the suit, numbered MAW/345C/2025, the matter was scheduled for hearing on 23rd March 2026 but could not proceed due to the absence of the Chief Magistrate, Her Worship Esther Chukwu.
Consequently, the case was adjourned to May 4, 2026.
The suit borders on defamation, with the Awka Catholic Diocese alleging that Comrade Obi stated that he would rather deal with the devil than with the Diocese.
The adjournment marks the second consecutive time the matter has been stalled, a development the defendant Comrade Obi, did not take lightly.
Comrade Obi, a renowned human rights activist and Convener of the Recover Nigeria Project (RNP), was present in court alongside his lawyer, Barrister Martin Obi.
However, the plaintiff (Awka Catholic Diocese) and its counsel were conspicuously absent.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the adjournment was announced, Comrade Obi expressed sadness over the repeated adjournment.
According to him, even if the magistrate had an emergency, the court ought to have informed counsel in advance instead of allowing litigants to incur unnecessary expenses.
He urged the court to ensure a speedy trial in the interest of justice.
“I am terribly sad. I am not saying that the presiding judge should not have an emergency, but we need to be communicated with; my lawyer needs to be informed,”
“Last time we came here, the Magistrate did not sit, and we bore the costs. This time again, we were not informed. We left everything we were doing to come to court, and nobody communicated to us that the court would not be sitting. It is still very sad.”
“To me, this is a matter that borders on life. As I speak with you now, my wife is in the hospital at Amaku, on admission as a result of this case.”
“I wouldn’t say that the other side is influencing the development, but I am bitter and angry.”
“So, I am asking for a speedy hearing of this case. My wife has nowhere to carry out her business; her blood pressure is rising every day. You recall how she was arrested and taken away from her shop, how the police came with handcuffs to take her away, accusing her of aiding kidnapping because of this case.”
“I am spending money, and I am requesting that the court should have an internal mechanism for communicating with litigants. There is no point coming to court to waste time when the court is not sitting. We can dedicate this time to other things. I am deeply saddened by this development.”
“I see this as justice delayed because, if you look at the way the other side went to the police and how they came to this court and obtained a judgment without our knowledge, it is troubling. I am very apprehensive,” he added.
Also speaking, counsel to the defendant, Barrister Martin Obi, expressed disappointment over the lack of communication.
“Ideally, we are supposed to be informed if there is any change and the court will not sit,”
“While no one is saying the judge cannot have an emergency, appropriate notice should be given. The judge could have instructed court staff to inform parties that she would not be sitting.”he said.