Justice Veronica Ajogwu has adjourned the high-stakes N14.5 billion Demolition lawsuit filed by the Nkomoro Onuogba community against former Power Minister Prof. Barth Nnaji and his co-defendant.
ENUGU – The Enugu State High Court, presided over by Justice Veronica Ajogwu, has adjourned the N14.5 billion lawsuit filed against former Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, regarding the alleged destruction of property belonging to the Nkomoro Onuogba community.
The suit, which represents a significant legal confrontation, was initiated by twenty-five members of the community against Nnaji and one Okwuchukwu Nnaji.
During the resumed hearing on Tuesday, counsel to the plaintiffs, Mr. Peter Igwe, addressed the court regarding the status of the defense. He informed the presiding judge that the defendants had been duly served with all necessary court processes since 2025.
According to Igwe, despite these notifications, the defendants have neither filed a defense nor entered an appearance, suggesting a lack of interest in the proceedings. He urged the court to allow the matter to proceed, noting that the defendants had been served with hearing notices ahead of the session, which was last heard on March 11, 2026.
In response to the submission, Justice Ajogwu adjourned the case until May 12, 2026, for hearing. The court ordered that fresh hearing notices be served on the defendants to ensure they are adequately notified before the next scheduled date.
The court documents reveal the massive scale of the claims being pursued by the community. The plaintiffs are seeking substantial compensation for various structures they allege were demolished by the defendants. This includes eleven two-storey buildings, six three-storey buildings, ninety-three duplexes, and one hundred and seventy bungalows, each valued at an average cost of N50 million.
Beyond the structural damage, the community is requesting the court to compel the defendants to pay N7 billion as compensation for seven deceased members who allegedly lost their lives during the incident, with the plaintiffs valuing each life at N1 billion.
Furthermore, the legal action encompasses a claim for N3.4 billion related to the alleged looting of personal property. The plaintiffs detailed a wide range of missing items, including water coolers, mattresses, motorcycles, televisions, sewing machines, cooking pots, air conditioners, and beds.
The lawsuit also seeks a perpetual injunction to restrain the defendants, their agents, privies, and legal representatives from any further interference with the ancestral home of the plaintiffs. In addition to financial compensation, the community is urging the court to formally declare them the rightful owners of the disputed Nkomoro Onuogba land, asserting that the property was inherited from their forebears and has been occupied by the community for generations.
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