“Awka Catholic Diocese Is Worse Than Bandits” — Activist Demands N25 Million Over Forceful Eviction

Human rights activist Osita Obi has demanded N25 million in compensation from the Catholic Diocese of Awka, accusing the church of forcefully evicting his wife from a property it owns.

At a press conference in Awka, Obi presented journalists with certified copies of a court judgment obtained by the diocese against the former owner of the property. He explained that he and his family recently relocated from Abuja to Anambra after his wife retired as a deputy director in a federal agency, and had secured a shop in the building, paid for it, and obtained receipts before beginning business.

Obi claimed that the church went to court against the former owner without informing the tenants and, after securing a favorable judgment, brought police to the property instead of issuing notice to vacate. He alleged that officers broke down shop doors and removed tenants’ belongings.

Speaking to journalists, Obi said the eviction was supervised by the Chancellor of the Awka Diocese, Rev. Fr. Charles Ndubuisi, who was present during the destruction. “The church broke into my wife’s shop, destroyed her property, and threw her out like a criminal. She is now in a hospital in Enugu as a result of the trauma,” Obi said. He added that property worth about N5 million was destroyed during the eviction and called on the diocese to issue a written apology and pay N25 million in compensation.

Obi condemned the diocese’s actions, describing them as dehumanizing and likening them to terrorist behavior. “Awka Catholic Diocese is worse than bandits. They are worse than Lucifer,” he said, stressing that his fight is against the diocese, not the Catholic Church as a whole.

In response, Rev. Dr. Charles Ndubuisi had previously stated that the destruction was carried out by court bailiffs and police operatives, not the church, and added that the diocese would consider reabsorbing tenants if they reapplied to remain in the property.