BY JUDE OSSAI / ENUGU
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The legal battle between Dr. Basil Kechukwu Ogbuanu, a business man and the wife of the former governor of old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo, Mrs Patricia Nwobodo, has been adjourned to October 21, 2026 for hearing.
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The matter which came up on Thursday at the Enugu State High Court presided over by Justice Alukwu was adjourned till October 21, 2026 to enable Ogbuanu’s legal counsel to react to the preliminary objection raised by plaintiff’s counsel.
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Ogbuanu, it can be recalled procured landed property from the former governor, Nwobodo Plots R/18 through to R/21 Independence, which he has developed to some extent but Nwobodo’s wife ordered its demolition and instead asked Ogbuanu to come and take back his money which he is not taking.
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Feeling aggrieved, Mrs Nwobodo in Suit no. E/244/2025, sued Ogbuanu claiming that she was physically attacked at the property by Ogbuanu’s proxies.
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She went ahead to arrest Ogbuanu at the Enugu Airport claiming damages and aggravated damages amounting to one billion twenty five million, which break down is N20 million, special medical expenses; N1 billion, for aggravated damage and N5 million for general cost, N1,025,000,000,000.00.
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However, Ogbuanu, feeling injured by such action and suit, in a counter suit no. E/328/2026 approached the court to pay him damages and an injunction that the defendants will not disturb him again over the property which rightly belonged to him because he paid to acquire them.
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Explaining the adjournment of the legal fireworks, counsel to Ogbuanu, Mr. Onyechi Araka pointed out that, “the defendants entered appearance today to file their statement of defence and they also filed a notice of preliminary objection and the defence counsel representing the 5th and 6th defendants also filed their own preliminary objection challenging the suit. So the court, after reviewing the multiple applications before it adjourned till the 21st day of October, 2026 to entertain their applications and to enable the plaintiff counsel to react to the applications to determine if the suit would go on or not after that day. The case just commenced,” Araka explained.
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The legal battle is becoming more interested because Nwobodo has changed her counsel, A J Offiah and instead hired a legal luminary, Chief Chuma Oguejiofor to continue the legal battle which is what primarily led to the adjournment of the case.
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More interesting in the case is that Dr. Ogbuagu is seeking a formal judicial declaration that the Defendant was responsible for his unlawful humiliation, arrest, and detention.
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At the heart of the new suit is a demand for ₦10,000,000,000 (Ten Billion Naira) in exemplary damages. This money is intended to compensate for the “molestation” and public embarrassment Dr. Ogbuanu suffered during the airport arrest and subsequent detention.
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Furthermore, the doctor is seeking a perpetual injunction. If granted, this order would permanently restrain Barrister Nwobodo and her agents from making any further “false allegations” against him to the police or any other law enforcement agencies.
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Court documents reveal that the friction stems from a complex real estate transaction involving Plots R/18 through R/21 in Independence Layout. Dr. Ogbuanu claims he invested heavily in these properties between 2019 and 2023, citing specific Power of Attorney dates and registration numbers.
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The Plaintiff alleges that the Defendant held herself out as an allottee and director in Linkana Hotels but failed to deliver the promised title documents after payments were made.
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He contended that the criminal report was a diversionary tactic used to avoid these contractual obligations, hence the counter suit.
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