Legal fireworks have commenced in the N10 million fundamental rights suit brought against the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Udu Branch Chairman, Odohisi John, by three members over their removal from the Branch WhatsApp platform.
This comes as 16 lawyers, who are also members of the branch, stormed the Otor Udu High Court to defend the Branch Chairman over the matter.
The three lawyers, Obehi Elebhose Esq, Ugbuta Ogbonnaya Esq and Anna Esq in Suit No: OUHC/FHR/117/2025 are contending that the removal had breached their rights.
The suit slated for hearing was, however, adjourned to 7th October, 2025 as the court sat late.
Patrick Mekako Esq, who led a long list of lawyers in court in solidarity with the branch chairman, said the action of the trio applicants was insulting to the branch.
Mekako, a former chairman of the branch noted that the action of the applicants conotes desperation and abuse of court processes and they were ready to dig it out in court with them.
“The action of the Applicants is despicable and insulting to the Branch, we are here to defend our chairman and we intend to do so to a logical conclusion”, he said.
The applicants in their originating motion had prayed the court for a declaration that the respondent’s malicious removal of the applicants from the NBA Udu Bar Branch WhatsApp platform without any contravention of any known law by the applicants was unlawful, unconstitutional and breach of the Applicants fundamental rights as provide in 36,38,39 and 46(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
They prayed for “an Order of this Honourable Court ordering the Respondent to immediately reinstate the applicants to the said NBA Udu Bar branch WhatsApp platform.
“An Order of this Honourable Court ordering the respondent to render public apology to the applicants.
The sum of N10,000,000.00 only against the respondent as damages suffered by the applicants.”
