Man demands N25m compensation from Catholic Church for forceful eviction

Human rights activist and social crusader, Osita Obi, has demanded the sum of N25 million from the Catholic Diocese of Awka for forcefully evicting his wife from a property owned by the church.

Obi in a press conference in Awka, handed journalists certified true copies of judgment obtained by the Catholic Diocese of Awka, in which it won a suit against the former owner of the property.

The activist said he recently relocated with his family from Abuja to Anambra after his wife retired as a deputy director in a federal agency, and they secured a shop in a building, paid and obtained receipts, before commencing business.

He said the Church, however, went to court against the former owner, without the knowledge of the tenants and secured a judgement but instead of serving the tenants notice to vacate the premises, the church resorted to bringing police operatives to the property, broke down the doors of the shops and threw out belongings of the tenants.

Obi while addressing journalists said: “The destruction of my property was supervised by the Chancellor of the Awka Diocese, Rev. Fr. Charles Ndubuisi, who was physically present, about three weeks ago where they destroyed our properties.

“The church broke into my wife’s shop, destroyed her property, and threw her out like a criminal. She is now in a hospital in Enugu as a result of the trauma.

“We were never served any notice, the church deceived the court and got a judgement. This is not the act of God but pure wickedness.

“What I expected the church to do after securing a favourable court judgement against our former landlord was to tell us of the new development, and ask us to leave, not coming to destroy our property.

“My properties were thrown out under the heavy rainfall of that fateful Thursday, and many were destroyed. I have picked some of my things and taken them to my hometown, but property worth about N5 million was destroyed.

“My wife is still in hospital in Enugu as I speak, as a result of trauma. I’m seeking for the Awka Catholic Diocese to tender a written apology to me and also compensate me to the tune of N25 million for my troubles.

“If they fail to do so, I will have no option than to take them to court.,” the activist said.

He lamented that the Awka Catholic Diocese has presented itself as a terrorist organization, dehumanizing poor and innocent people, most of whom are members of the church.

“I want to tell the whole world that Awka Catholic Diocese is worse than bandits. They are worse than Lucifer, and I will stop at nothing to fight them. Let it be known that this fight is not against the Catholic Church, but against the Awka Catholic Diocese who have presented themselves as worse than boko haram terrorists.”

In his reaction in a previous press engagement, the Chancellor of Awka Diocese, Rev Dr Charles Ndubuisi had insisted that the destruction was carried out by court bailiffs and police operatives. He exonerated the church from the destruction of tenants’ properties, saying the church would be willing to reabsorb the tenants if they reapplied to remain in the property.

Man demands N25m compensation from Catholic Church for forceful eviction