Anambra Ex-lawmaker dragged to court for beating man who opposed his re-election

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By Madu Obi

A business man, Mr Chinedu Anaukwu has dragged a former member of the House of Representatives for Anambra East and West federal constituency, Hon Chinedu Obidigwe to court for allegedly beating him up.

Anaukwu in his prayers, is asking for N200million compensation for his ordeals in the hands of Obidigwe.

The plaintiff was said to have demanded accountability and record of Obidigwe's performance as lawmaker before he should aspire to return to the national assembly.

The beating was said to have been carried out shortly before the 2023 general election.

According to the victim, "It was in 2023, just before the general election, I had written in Aguleri World Forum, a WhatsApp group, demanding accountability from Obidigwe who was then re-contesting to return to the House of Representatives.

I told him that it had been over three years he had been in the National Assembly, and that before aspiring for re-election, he should give us account of his constituency funds and other achievements in the area.

His boys were not happy about it, and one day he accosted me with over 13 thugs and ordered them to kill me. They beat me until I lost consciousness."

When the matter came up at Otuocha High Court, Anambra East local government area, counsel to Anaukwu, Chief Gozie Obi (SAN) withdrew the charges against the second and fifth defendants in the matter, who were identified as aides of Obidigwe, who allegedly participated in the assault.

While the second defendant is said to be already late, the fifth was said not to have been served with the processes.

Obi who spoke to reporters said: "Today is the first time the matter is coming up in court for pretrial hearing and in the course of the proceeding it came to light that the second defendant is late and since you can't sue a dead person, we had to withdraw the charge against him.

Also, the fifth defendant was not served, but we wanted case to progress, so we had to withdraw against him too, moreso when we know that the principal defendant is Obidigwe, as all the others were just his aides, and acted under his instruction."

During the sitting, the principal defendant, Hon Obidigwe was represented by his lawyer, Barr Emmanuel Offoh.

The matter was later adjourned to November 18 for continuation of pretrial before full hearing.