Crisis: Opposition risks jail term in Anambra electronics market

By Cyprian Ebele, Onitsha

The three man executive of International Electronics Market, Ogbaru Local Government Area, Anambra State, led by Chief Dona Obi, has allegedly filed forms 48 and 49 as plaintiffs, at Atani High court against Ifechi Anozie, Mr. Izuchukwu Okoye and Registered trustees of the market (defendants), to show cause why they should not be committed to prison for disobeying court order.

In the suit No. AT/83/2023, the plaintiffs, it war learnt, filed their stay of execution in the market on 30th July 2024 and hearing on the stay of execution and appeal adjourned to 17th October 2024

It was gathered that despite the court order to stay execution, served on the defendants, on 14 August 2024, the first defendant, Anozie, led a myriad of policemen, three court bailiffs and scores of thugs to execute an Atani high court order in the market.

Fielding questions from newsmen, the chairman of the three man executive of the market, Chief Obi, stated that on 14 August 2024, the first defendant stormed the market with a team of policemen, three court bailiffs and thugs to the dismay of traders and started to execute a court order but were halted when they were presented with a stay of execution order from an Atani High court.

“Anozie dragged us to court over revenue collection and got judgment on 26 July 2o24, to embark on execution and we filed stay of execution and appealed the judgment which was served him, served former market President, Mr. Izu Okoye and chairman of the market trustees, Chief Dona Onyirioha.

“It was on the process of executing the court order that I presented the stay of execution order to the leader of the police team who immediately called the attention of the Chief bailiff, Mr. Ishiene Sunday, who led two other bailiffs to execute the order and scolded him for deceiving them.

“In his defence the Chief bailiff who reportedly signed the proof of execution said that it was the ACR that motivated him to carry out the execution order.

“The police then stopped the execution and demanded for a copy of the stay of execution order which we photocopied and made available to the police and Chief court bailiff and immediately the police, in company of Anozie and cohorts, left for the office of the Onitsha police Area commander, Mr Gregory Itobere.

“After being briefed by the leader of the police team that came for the execution, the Area commander expressed dissatisfaction with the role played by the bailiffs,” the market chairman disclosed further.

The chairman however, called for total overhaul of the judiciary adding that the action of the Chief bailiff is quite unfortunate and attributed it to money exchanging hands for illegal service.

Unless the defendants give cogent reason for disobeying court order they may be on their way to prison over contempt of court as the market executives led by Obi disclosed that through their counsel, Emeka Anyanechi, they have filed forms 48 and 49 against the defendants.