Eche Nwaobasi
Nnewi
An Onitsha based Lawyer Mr. Ndubuisi Okwuchukwu has sued a popularly Onitsha businessman Chief Nwabueze Friday Umeh otherwise known in Onitsha business circle as offia afulu ego to court for grievous assault on him which he alleged was brutally carried on his person by the business man in conjunction with his private security guards which he carries about as his personal paid bodyguards and issuance of a serious threat that the businessman will use his business connection in Onitsha to eliminate him if he insist on collecting his Professional fees on work done for him in the past.
According to the lawyer, his ordeal with the business man started when he the lawyer accompanied the bailiffs of Onitsha high court as a pointer to the office of the businessman to serve him a copy of a court judgment he secured against him concerning the businessman refusal to pay him his professional fees he charged him on a case he handled for him.
According to the five count charges which the Anambra State Police Commissioner is prosecuting on behalf of Bar. Okwuchukwu Ndubuisi against Chief Nwabueze Friday Umeh.
Which ran thus;
- That you Umeh Friday Nwabueze of No. 15 Modebe Avenue Onitsha and others at large on the 26th day of January 2023 at No. 15 Modebe avenue Onitsha in the Onitsha magisterial district did conspire to commit a felony to wit, assault occasional harm, you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 495 (a) of the criminal code cap 36, Vol, 11 revised Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria 1991.
Count II, that you Umeh Friday Nwabueze (m) of the above mentioned address and others now at large on the same date, place and in the aforementioned magisterial district did unlawfully assault Bar, Ndubuisi Okwuchukwu (m) by beating him up with thugs, which caused him harm, you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 258 of the criminal code cap 36, Vol 11 revised Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria 1991.
Count III, that you Umeh Friday Nwabueze (m) of the above mentioned address and others now at large on the same date, place and in the aforementioned magisterial district did damage the cloth of Bar. Ndubuisi Okwuchukwu by tearing his cloth, while beating him up with your thugs. You thereby committed an offence punishable under section 415 (1) of the criminal code cap 36, Vol 11 revised Law of Anambra State of Nigeria 1991.
Count IV, that you Umeh Friday Nwabueze (m) of the above mentioned address and others at large on the same date, place and in the aforementioned magisterial district did willfully obstruct and resist the bailiffs of the high court of justice Onitsha of justice Onitsha. You hereby committed an offence punishable under section 174 of the criminal code cap 36 vol. 11 revised Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria 1991.
Count V. that you Umeh Friday Nwabueze (M) of the above mentioned address and others at large on the same date, place and in the aforementioned magisterial district did intimidate Bar. Ndubuisi Okwuchukwu by threatening to kill him, a statement which caused him fear and anxiety. You thereby committed an offence punishable under section 20 (1) of the violence against persons (prohibition) laws of Anambra State of Nigeria 2017.
When the case came up for mention in Onitsha Chief Magisterial Court presided over by her Worship Ukamaka B. Okoye yesterday, the Police prosecutor handling the case, Inspector C.P. Nwezi prayed the court to order for a full service of necessary papers to the defendant Chief Nwabueze Umeh and his legal team who was absent to enable the case to commence smoothly and ask for an adjournment.
ruling on the matter after hearing the Police Prosecutor, The presiding magistrate Ukamaka B. Okoye ordered for full service to all the parties involved on the matter and adjourned the case to 11th June 2024 for proper commencement of hearing.
