Ebonyi High Court Acquits PDP Officials Over Allegations of Cultism, Forgery
An Ebonyi State High Court sitting in Iboko has discharged and acquitted three executive committee members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ogudu Okwor Ward, Onicha Local Government Area of the state over allegations of impersonation and forgery of party officials and documents.
In the judgment delivered by Honourable Justice Ruth Edenwali, on Wednesday October 14, 2026, in suit Suit No. HIB/15C/2026 (THE STATE vs. OBINNA NWACHUKWU & 2 ORS), the court held that the defendants, Obinna Nwachukwu (1st Defendant), Idika Ogbonnya (2nd Defendant), and Njoku Nwagwu (3rd Defendant), acted in their valid capacities as the authentic executive committee members of the PDP in Ogudu Okwor Ward, Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
A former National Vice Chairman of the PDP Southeast, Mr. Ali Odefa in 2024 had petitioned the Nigeria Police alleging that the trio were cultists who attacked him, impersonated PDP Ward Executives and forged documents to suspend and sunsequently expelled him from the PDP.
However, the court in its judgment held that the nominal complainant, Ali Odefa failed to prove that the Executive Committee members, Messrs Njoku Nwagwu, Obinna Nwachukwu and Ogbonnaya Idika forged documents of the party in his suspension and subsequent expulsion from the PDP.
Delivering judgment, Justice Edenwali held that Odefa failed to prove that the PDP officials were cultists, and also failed to prove that any documents of the party was forged in the suspension and subsequent expulsion of Mr. Odefa from the PDP.
According to the Judge, the nominal complainant (Odefa) could not “prove beyond reasonable doubt”, that the accused committed the crimes. She stated that “the nominal complainant, when asked for proof of cultism said that he was attacked in the village and on stadium too, but when he was asked whether he reported to any security agencies, he said no, and when he was asked to present any evidence that prove that the defendants are cultist. He said that he has none.”
Also the Police prosecutor, who testified in the matter also failed to show any evidence that the accused were cultists.
The court further held that Odefa equally failed to prove any allegation of forgery against the PDP Ward executives.
Background
Earlier, the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division in its judgement delivered on September 24, 2026 in Appeal No CA/E/22/2025, upheld the judgement of the Federal High Court Abakaliki which ruled that Mr. Ali Odefa was validly suspended from the PDP by his ward executives.
In the Appeal Court in a unanimous judgement delivered by Hon Justice Hadiza Rabiu Shagari, JCA, the appellate court held that the decision of the lover court upholding the suspension of Mr. Odefa was valid as the suspension was done in line with the clear provisions of the constitution of the PDP, 2017 (as amended).
Honourable Justice Hilary Oshomah of the Federal High Court Abakaliki on December 11, 2024 while delivering judgment in Suit NO: FHC/AI/CS/183/2024 held that Mr. Odefa was validly suspended by the Ward Executive of PDP Ogudu Okwor, Onicha LGA of Ebonyi State.
Mr. Odefa was subsequently expelled from the PDP after a disciplinary Committee set up the party found him guilty of allegations of engaging in anti-party activities.