By Ononye VC
An Onitsha High Court, presided over by Justice T.U Oguji on Wednesday struck out the contempt proceedings brought by some pentecostal groups against the Chancellor of the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha, Very Rev Fr Prudentius Emeka Aroh and the Parish Priest of Queen of Peace Catholic Parish, Fegge, Onitsha,Rev Fr Basil Okelu over the ownership tussle in respect of Ugborimili Primary Schools, Housing Estate, Fegge,Onitsha.
The Plaintiffs falsely told the court that the two priests violated the court order by sending workers to repair some parts of the delapidated Ugborimi primary schools Fegge, Onitsha, which is a school owned by the catholic church.
This followed the earlier quashing of the interim Injunction obtained by the said Plaintiffs against the Onitsha Archdiocese by the Onitsha High Court presided over by Justice Sylvester Odili. Justice Odili had earlier been prevailed upon to set aside his order of injunction against the Church on ground of lack of jurisdiction by the lead counsel for Onitsha Catholic Archdiocese, Barr Azubike Anazor, which application was granted on 30th April 2024. Following the setting aside of the said interlocutory order of injunction, Sir Anazor quickly filed papers before Justice Oguji court, urging him to terminate his contempt proceedings against the two priests since the basis of the contempt allegations was no more. Justice Oguji on Wednesday acceded to this application and struck out the two cases against the Chancellor and the Parish Priest of Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Fegge, Onitsha respectively, with substantial costs awarded against the Plaintiffs/ Applicants in favour of the Catholic Church.
The Plaintiffs/ Applicants were represented by Ben Osaka,SAN and C.O Oguguo while the Onitsha Archdiocese was defended by Sir Azubike Anazor,a knight of St John International (KSJI).
It is instructive to note that all cases instituted by the Plaintiffs against Onitsha Archdiocese at both the Federal High Court,Awka and the various courts in Onitsha pertaining to ownership of Ugborimili Primary Schools, Housing Estate Fegge,have all been decided in favour of the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha
