Anambra Activist, Osita Obi, Flays Frequent Postponements of His Case with Catholic Church, Says “My Wife Is Dying”

By Tony Okafor, Awka

Proceedings at the Awka Magistrate Court, sitting at Amawbia in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, were on Monday stalled following the absence of the Chief Magistrate, Her Worship Esther Chukwu, leading to another adjournment in a defamation suit filed by the Awka Catholic Diocese against a rights activist, Comrade Osita Obi.
The case, marked MAW/3456/2025, was scheduled for hearing on March 23, 2026, but could not go on due to the magistrate’s absence.

The matter was subsequently adjourned to May 4, 2026.

The suit centres on alleged defamatory remarks, with the Awka Catholic Diocese accusing Obi of stating that he would rather deal with the devil than with the Awka Catholic Diocese, adding that Boko Haram was better than the diocese.

Monday’s development marks the second consecutive adjournment of the case, a situation that drew strong criticism from the defendant.

Comrade Obi, Convener of the Recover Nigeria Project (RNP), was present in court alongside his counsel, Barrister Martin Obi.

However, the plaintiff and its legal representatives were absent.

Speaking with journalists after the adjournment, Obi expressed deep frustration over what he described as repeated lack of communication from the court, noting that litigants should not be made to incur unnecessary expenses.

“I am terribly sad. I am not saying that the presiding magistrate should not have an emergency, but we need to be communicated with; my lawyer needs to be informed.”

“Last time we came here, the court did not sit and we bore the costs. This time again, we were not informed. We left everything we were doing to come to court, and nobody communicated to us.”

He called for a speedy hearing of the matter, stressing that the delays were taking a toll on his family.

“To me, this is a matter that borders on life. As I speak with you now, my wife is in the hospital at Chukwuemea Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital Amaku, on admission as a result of this case,” Obi said.

He further alleged that the situation had disrupted his wife’s livelihood and worsened her health condition.

“My wife has nowhere to carry out her business; her blood pressure is rising every day. You recall how she was arrested and taken away from her shop, with allegations linked to this case,” he added.

Obi, while stopping short of accusing the opposing party of influencing proceedings, said he was “bitter and angry,” describing the situation as “justice delayed.”

He urged the judiciary to establish effective communication mechanisms to keep litigants informed of court sittings.

“There is no point coming to court to waste time when the court is not sitting. We can dedicate this time to other things. I am deeply saddened by this development,” he said.

Also speaking, defence counsel,Martin Obi, expressed disappointment over the lack of prior notice.

“Ideally, we are supposed to be informed if there is any change and the court will not sit.

“While no one is saying the magistrate cannot have an emergency, appropriate notice should be given. The court could have directed its staff to inform parties accordingly.”

Efforts to get a reaction from the Awka Catholic Diocese were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.