The three-year legal battle between Mrs. Nnenna Ezenwa and Reverend Father Ejike Nwankwo may have concluded with both parties opting for an out-of-court settlement.
Hon. Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, a
Federal High Court Judge in Awka, Anambra State, facilitated the amicable
resolution of the dispute between the two parties.
Mrs. Ezenwa had accused the
priest of defrauding her of approximately N27 million Naira. Consequently, the
priest faced charges at the Federal High Court in Awka, including fraudulent
activities, violence, assault, malicious damage, and conduct likely to cause a
breach of peace.
Despite the court granting an
accelerated three-day hearing in the case, the parties initially failed to
settle out of court. However, when trial resumed, Justice Dimgba expressed
dissatisfaction with the priest's failure to reach an out-of-court settlement,
emphasizing his discomfort in seeing a priest facing charges of fraud and other
allegations in court.
Justice Dimgba urged Reverend
Father Ejike to resolve the matter with Mrs. Ezenwa, highlighting the
incongruity of a priest standing trial for fraud while potentially hearing
confessions the next day. Following the judge's advice, the priest agreed to
pay Mrs. Ezenwa the sum of N17 million Naira as part of the N27 million she
demanded, representing the expenses incurred in refurbishing and equipping a
moribund filling station central to the case.
Satisfied with the priest's
agreement, Justice Dimgba adjourned the case and directed the parties to retire
to the judge's chambers for a Zoom meeting with Mrs. Ezenwa, who was outside
Nigeria. The priest agreed to pay Mrs. Ezenwa in two installments: N10 million
on November 24th, 2023, and the balance of N7 million on January 24th, 2024.
The court adjourned the case to February 1st, 2024, for a report on whether the
matter had been finally settled.
As part of the settlement, the
court ordered the parties to go to Umunze, the property location in question,
for inspection and the collection of one 4 Runner Jeep, one bus, and three
engines belonging to Mrs. Ezenwa. These items have been delivered and are now
in Mrs. Ezenwa's custody. Any undelivered items will be disclosed to the court
on the next adjourned date.
Previously, Mrs. Ezenwa had
reported to the police that the priest had fraudulently deceived her into
investing N26,986,000 in his moribund company, which included a filling
station. She further alleged that she provided the priest with N4,250,000 in
cash for refurbishing the company. The priest was charged with five counts,
including fraudulent activity, violence, assault, malicious damage, and conduct
likely to cause a breach of peace in the case between the Inspector General of
Police and Reverend Father Ejike Nwankwo.
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