A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Asaba has discharged and acquitted Hon. Fred Ofume, the immediate past chairman of Ika South Local Government Council Chuks Irabor and Mr. Eki, defendants in a case of malicious damage leveled against them by Alex Ikpeazu. The matter was in respect of the ownership of Musa butchers market along College road between the complainant, Alex Ikpeazu and the defendants, Fred Ofume, Chuks Irabor and Eki Francis.
Mr. Alex Ukpeazu had upon claim of ownership of the said land, sued the past Local Government Chairman of Ika South and others for unlawful entry and malicious damage.
Speaking to Ika Weekly Newspaper reporter, Hon. Fred Ofume said, “It was a worthy action we took to recover the market from Alex Ukpeazu who claimed ownership of the land, but was unable to present any legal document to justify his claim. I did a lot of investigation and discovered that he has been changing the size of the land in his documents; 5000sqm, 7000sqm, and lately he has presented documents showing 4000sqm.
The land; the Musa market in question is about 13000sqm. Immediately this was revealed, he took on me personally. He took us: Eki Francis, Jude Irabor , and I to court and wrote to the police headquarters asking them to prosecute us for unlawful entry, malicious damage. The three of us were charged to Asaba Magistrate court 1. The matter was adjourned and the last hearing was slated for the 16th of this month. But, the court did not sit on that day because of the public holiday. So, yesterday, we went to court and the three of us were discharged and acquitted. So, the case is over now.”
Speaking further said they were discharged and acquitted consequent upon a nolle presequi entered in their favour by the Attorney General of Delta State who has unfettered powers to continue and discontinue any criminal proceedings in court at any time before judgment is delivered through the power conferred on him by the provision of section 21c of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. Counsel to the defendants S. O. A. Gbenoba Esq and S. Ugbo Esq thanked the magistrate for upholding the rule of law.
Present at the court were executive members of Agbor Community Union (ACU) led by the President General (PG), Mr. Larry Onyeche, Concern Agbor Citizen with Echi Obue as chairman, Agbor Community youths represented by their president, Comr. Marvin Enyosa and others.