A litigant in an Anambra High Court presided over by Justice David Onyefulu has been found to be dead and has been buried for over 15 years.
The litigant, Chief Jacob Arinze is one of the persons who is currently challenging the traditional ruler of Awka community, Igwe Obi Gibson Nwosu, over the traditional stool, which has long been in contest.
Testifying in the court, a 78 year old deponent, Anthony Arinze, observed that Chief Oyeoka Jacob Arinze was his uncle who died on October 18, 2003.
He added, “And he was interred on November, 21, 2003 at his (the deceased) compound- No 2 Muofunanya Street, Nkwelle-Awka.
Arinze contended that, “In the foregoing, he (the deceased) could not have originated or participated in the said suit since he was dead and buried more than fifteen years ago”.
He described the suit and the procurement of the said judgement of Jan 15,2018 as “pure fraud aimed to mislead the court”.
To buttress his argument, Arinze attached a copy of the funeral brochure and the tribute he allegedly wrote in honour of his late uncle.
In his affidavit, Arinze who claimed that he hailed from Achallaoji Quarter in Nkwelle-Awka, averred that “the suit No A/358/2017 brought by Ichie Nweke Uche Okoye and others, including Chief Oyeoka Jacob Arinze( purportedly dead), in which judgement was entered on January 15, 2018, was never brought to the attention of the Nkwelle Community and was falsely claimed by the named plaintiffs.”
The court, however, adjourned the matter to 2nd May 2018, following the application of the prosecuting lawyer, Mr Uba Anene, that he needed some time to react to the counter affidavit filed by the defendants.
He said he was not served directly, but was rather served through what he called a collaborating counsel.
The defence counsel led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu, did not object to the application.