BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO

ONITSHA — A native of Oko in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Sopulu Ezeonwuka, has dragged the traditional ruler of the area, Igwe Laz Ekwueme, and the President-General of Oko Peoples Union, OPU, Mr. Ike Nwammuo, to court, claiming N50 million as general damages.

Ezeonwuka is one of the 13 indigenes of the community allegedly banished by the traditional ruler recently over their involvement in the crisis in the community.

In a statement of claim filed at Ekwulobia High Court Registry in Aguata Judicial Division, the plaintiff, through his legal counsel, Joe Onuoha, was claiming the amount from the defendants for the loss and injury allegedly suffered by him on account of the banishment for life, ex-communication and ostracism meted out on him by the defendants since March 31, 2014.

The plaintiff is also seeking a declaration of the court that the resolution taken by the General Assembly of OPU on March 31, 2014, banishing him for life, ex-communicating and ostracising him from participating in all programmes and social activities without giving him the opportunity to be heard, infringed on his fundamental rights to fair hearing and, consequently, unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect.