Home News Businessman Drags Ex-Lawmaker to Court Over Alleged Assault, Demands N200m Compensation

Businessman Drags Ex-Lawmaker to Court Over Alleged Assault, Demands N200m Compensation

by Our Reporter
By Lizzy Chirkpi
A businessman, Mr. Chinedu Anaukwu, has instituted legal action against former House of Representatives member, Hon. Chinedu Obidigwe, over an alleged physical assault that occurred in 2023.
Obidigwe, who represented Anambra East and West Federal Constituency in the 9th National Assembly, is accused of orchestrating a brutal attack on Anaukwu following the latter’s call for accountability regarding his performance in office.
Narrating his ordeal to journalists, Anaukwu said, “It was in 2023, just before the general election. I had written in Aguleri World Forum, a WhatsApp group, demanding accountability from Obidigwe, who was then re-contesting to return to the House of Representatives.
“I told him it had been over three years that he had been in the National Assembly, and that before aspiring for re-election, he should give us account of his constituency funds and other achievements in the area.
“His boys were not happy about it, and one day he accosted me with over 13 thugs and ordered them to kill me. They beat me until I lost consciousness.”
The matter came up on Tuesday for pretrial at the Otuocha High Court in Anambra East Local Government Area. During the proceedings, counsel to Anaukwu, Chief Gozie Obi (SAN), withdrew charges against the second and fifth defendants, who were said to be aides to Hon. Obidigwe.
Explaining the development, Chief Obi told reporters, “Today is the first time the matter is coming up in court for pretrial hearing and in the course of the proceeding, it came to light that the second defendant is late, and since you can’t sue a dead person, we had to withdraw against him.
“Also, the fifth defendant was not served, but we wanted the case to progress, so we had to withdraw against him too, moreso when we know that the principal defendant is Obidigwe, as all the others were just his aides, and acted under his instruction.”
Hon. Obidigwe was represented in court by his lawyer, Barr. Emmanuel Offoh.
The case was adjourned to November 18 for continuation of pretrial before full hearing commences.
Anaukwu, in his prayers before the court, is seeking a compensation of N200 million for his physical and emotional trauma, as well as a conviction of the principal defendant.

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