A Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, has ordered Mr. Ali Odefa, the expelled former National Vice Chairman (Southeast) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to pay N100 million in damages for malicious accusations and misuse of police authority.
The judgment, delivered on Friday by Honourable Justice Hilary I. O. Oshomah, was in response to a lawsuit filed by 20 members of the PDP Oguduokwor Ward in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. The plaintiffs sought enforcement of their fundamental human rights after Mr. Odefa accused them of forgery in relation to his suspension from the party.
In the suit (FHC/AI/CS/FHR/197), the applicants—comprising PDP ward executives and members—alleged that Mr. Odefa lodged false claims with the police, accusing them of falsifying documents to orchestrate his suspension. However, the court ruled that Odefa failed to provide any evidence to substantiate his forgery allegations, describing his actions as “malicious.”
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Justice Oshomah emphasized that Odefa’s accusations amounted to a wrongful use of the police to intimidate the plaintiffs in what was clearly a civil political dispute. The court further issued an order restraining Mr. Odefa and the police from harassing, arresting, or intimidating the plaintiffs over his suspension from the PDP Oguduokwor Ward.
As part of the ruling, the court awarded N5 million in damages to each of the 20 applicants, amounting to a total of N100 million. It also directed that the damages be paid within seven days of the judgment, warning that failure to comply would attract a 10% daily interest.
The Commissioner of Police for Ebonyi State, represented in court by the OC Legal of the state command, was named as a respondent alongside Odefa and the Inspector General of Police. Notably, Odefa’s legal counsel was absent during the ruling despite being duly notified of the court sitting.
Mr. Ali Odefa’s troubles began on December 12, 2024, when he was expelled from the PDP by the executives of Oguduokwor Ward. The disciplinary committee of the party had found him guilty of several anti-party activities, leading to his expulsion.
