John Nwaigwe
REJOINDER: SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON THE PROPERTY DISPUTE INVOLVING RIBIZA HOTELS AND THE ORDER OF JUSTICE C.K. NWANKWO OF THE ABA HIGH COURT
Our attention has been drawn to a publication currently circulating on Facebook, authored by a faceless platform known as “The Eye Opener.” The said blog falsely alleges that Hon. Justice C.K. Nwankwo of the High Court of Abia State sitting in Aba made an order without giving fair hearing to the parties in a land dispute involving Owelle Greg Okafor, owner of Ribiza Hotels, Aba. It further claims—without any evidence—that legal practitioners and rights advocates are “stunned” by the court’s ruling.
This rejoinder becomes imperative to debunk the malicious and mischievous insinuations, clarify the true position of facts, and expose the deceit and propaganda being promoted by individuals who are uncomfortable with the lawful steps being taken to recover and protect property owned by Ribiza Hotels.
1. Facts of the Dispute: Ribiza Hotels lawfully purchased the subject property in 2023 from the shareholders of First Atlantic and Investment Company Limited. Upon attempting to take possession, the purchaser was met with violent resistance by criminal elements claiming to be tenants under a purported 20-year lease allegedly granted to them in 2023 by Mr. Alex Nwosu — a person who ceased to act on behalf of the company as far back as 2018. There is no record of payment or valid authorization for the purported lease. Importantly, the shareholders of First Atlantic and Investment Company Limited have filed sworn affidavits in the ongoing suit, denouncing the purported tenants and distancing themselves from Mr. Alex. Big Nwosu and the lawyers now claiming to act for them.
2. Due Process Was Followed: The Honourable Court gave all the parties opportunities to be heard and this enabled parties to file their respective processes according to the rules of the Honourable Court. After hearing all the parties and considering the sworn affidavits and arguments, the presiding Judge, His Lordship Honourable Justice C.K. Nwankwo granted an interim order sealing the disputed premises pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit. The order was made in the presence of parties, upon due consideration of the facts before the court. The claim by “The Eye Opener” that the order was issued without fair hearing is not only false but also aimed at misleading the public, and therefore in the minimum malicious. The claim in the minimum reflects both gross ignorance of court procedure, and deliberate extreme mischief, or attempt to mislead the public and incite contempt against the Honourable Court, and judicial process.
3. On Fair Hearing and Legal Remedies: Let it be stated for the record that any party aggrieved by a court order has a constitutional right of appeal. That is the proper and lawful route. Resorting to online defamation, shadowboxing the judiciary, or maligning litigants or judicial officers is an affront to the rule of law, which should not be condoned in any legal system much more a constitutional democracy irrespective of the guise upon which it is made.
The norms guiding journalism, and even the right to fair hearing also demands that journalists and persons making publications in any platform hear the person to be affected by any material which they seek to publish or against whom allegations were made in any issue which they are to publish. In the case of the Honourable Court the Registrar of the Court is available to seek such information about the conduct of proceedings or any issue of interest to any concerned journalist about any proceedings in any court of law. The operators of The Eye Opener failed to perform this obligation to observe fair hearing by seeking information from the Registrar of the Honourable Court to balance any information upon which their publication is allegedly premised. There is no justification—legal, moral or social—for The Eye Opener or its sponsors to cast aspersions on a sitting judge or to misrepresent proceedings that are already part of public judicial records.
4. The Due Process of the Law Will Be Pursued: Ribiza Hotels hereby notifies the general public that it will follow the due process of the law to go against cyber-bullying and all forms of crime against it and its officers.
Ribiza Hotels hereby notifies the public that it shall lodge a report to law enforcement against any person or group, or entity attempting to under any guise interfere with the proceedings pending before the trial court including by irresponsible journalism all geared to obstruct justice, or misrepresent ongoing proceedings with extreme mischief.
The misuse of social media to undermine judicial integrity is a vice that should not be allowed irrespective of the guise in which it is made. It is a settled principle that matters before the court are not to be tried in the court of public opinion or on the pages of Facebook. Those resorting to such tactics will answer to the law.
5. Conclusion : Ribiza Hotels remains committed to lawful means in the protection of its proprietary rights and in doing so shall follow and abide by the due process of the law.
The publication by The Eye Opener is nothing but a smear campaign motivated by extreme malice of vested interests whose shall be examined in light of the laws of Nigeria.
We call on the public to ignore this desperate propaganda and allow the Honourable Court to do its work without interference or distraction.
Justice, though sometimes may appear slow but is certain, and shall take its course.
Thank you.
