Human rights activist and coordinator of the Recover Nigeria Project (RNP), Comrade Osita Obi, has issued a two-week ultimatum to the Catholic Diocese of Awka, demanding a public apology and ₦25 million in compensation for the alleged illegal eviction and destruction of his wife’s property.
Obi, speaking at a press conference in Awka, condemned the diocese’s actions, accusing it of forcefully evicting his wife, Mrs. Beatrice Obi, and five others from shops at No. 27 Secretariat Road, Awka, on July 31, 2025, without prior notice or legal documentation.
He described the move as “inhumane and unjust,” alleging that the Diocese bypassed due process and compared their actions to those of “bandits and terrorists.”
“I am not against the Catholic Church, but I am strongly opposed to the way the Awka Diocese has handled this matter,” Obi said.
“They evicted my wife without proper court procedures and have now hospitalized her due to the trauma.”
Obi warned that if the Church fails to apologize and compensate him, he will escalate the issue, even threatening to take it to the Vatican. He also revealed that he is consulting legal counsel for possible redress in court.
Obi also rejected any suggestion that his wife could return to the shop, citing a 2022 police petition from the Diocese accusing her of aiding kidnapping and other crimes, claims he said were false and defamatory.
Meanwhile, court records show that the Diocese had obtained a legal judgment regarding the property.
In a ruling on July 10, 2025, Magistrate E.C. Chukwu of the Senior Magistrate Court II, Awka, ruled in favor of the Catholic Diocese of Awka in a suit (MAW/971/2024) against “Unknown Persons” occupying the property.
Court documents revealed that eviction notices, including quit notices and summons, were served through pasting after failed personal service attempts.
The court found that the defendants did not respond or appear in court to contest the case, resulting in a default judgment in favor of the Diocese.
According to Rev. Fr. Nicodemus Izuchukwu, the property manager for the Diocese, the Church intended to reclaim the building for its own use.
He stated that the property had been taken over by unauthorized occupants following the death of the former priest managing it.
Despite the court’s ruling, Obi insisted that the eviction was executed without proper notice and transparency.
He criticized the judiciary for enabling what he called a “backdoor arrangement,” and vowed to seek justice not only for his wife but also for the other affected tenants.
“This is not just about one shop. It’s about abuse of power, disregard for the law, and lack of human empathy,” he added.
Obi demanded the revocation of the eviction, payment of damages, and a formal apology from the Diocese.
