Solicitors of Prince Jude Ifeakanachukwu Emordi, the Palace Secretary of the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku and a one-time labour union activist in a motion filed on the 8th of December 2023 in Suit No: O/52/2023 have requested Justice K. O. Okpu of the High Court of Justice, Ogwashi-Uku, to recuse himself from the defamation suit filed against him by one Chief Michael Nwaukoni, a Lagos based businessman into clearing and forwarding.
In a curious twist of events, solicitors of Prince Jude Ifeakanachukwu Emordi also requested for the transfer of all suits involving the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku and Chief Mike Nwaukoni, including the contentious Iyase Chieftaincy dispute between the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku and Chief Mike Nwaukoni to the Chief Judge for reassignment to another judge.
Investigations by our reporters upon examination of the court affidavit showed that the request is based on information which was said to have been inadvertently revealed by one F. O. Okolie Esq, who is a long-time solicitor to Mike Nwaukoni.
The said F. O Okolie Esq had allegedly boasted that the outcomes of cases involving Mike Nwaukoni and Prince Jude Ifeakanachukwu Emordi and even the Obi of Ogwashi would certainly be decided in favour of Mike Nwaukoni who is said to be the bossom friend and financier of Hon. Justice K. O Okpu, the presiding judge of the High Court of Ogwashi-Uku.
Unconfirmed reports revealed that Hon. Justice K. O Okpu has served as a judge at the High Court of Justice of Ogwashi-Uku for nearly a decade.
Our reporter’s efforts to get a response from F. O Okolie, who is at the centre stage of this judicial imbroglio, proved abortive while Prince Jude Ifeakanachukwu Emordi refused to comment because the matter is sub judice.
He, however, complained about the delays in obtaining court rulings, which even after several months are unavailable, hampering their lawyers from effectively handling the cases, especially appeals.
“As it stands, we are waiting for court rulings several months afterwards. How can our lawyers litigate our matters when their hands are tied behind their backs?”
