Anyaonu was accused of disobeying the orders of Justice Ike Ogu in Motion No. A/862M/2018 between one Dr Ifeanyichukwu Okonkwo and the state housing corporation as a defendant, by refusing to provide the plaintiff with documents.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Anambra State Housing Development Corporation, Chike Anyaonu, faces jail over contempt of court.
Anyaonu was accused of disobeying the orders of Justice Ike Ogu in Motion No. A/862M/2018 between one Dr Ifeanyichukwu Okonkwo and the state housing corporation as a defendant, by refusing to provide the plaintiff with documents.
The documents are relating to alleged forgery of signature of the former Director of Estate, one P. O Obiorah which varies in written deposition in the court.
The court order was sequel to the discovery made by the plaintiff that the Counsel to the Defendant and a principal legal officer in the office of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of the state, Chinwe G. Okonkwo-Okom filed in the court with the signature of P. O Obiorah, Director of Estate in the Defendant forged in a written deposition with manifest intention to defraud the court.
The plaintiff told the court in his witness statement on oath that he is familiar with the signature of Defendant's witness Mr. P. O. Obiorah.
"That at the trial before Honourable court on 3/5/2018 Mr. P.O. Obiorah was cross-examined on the purported Witness Statement on oath dated 27 August, 2009, and he confirmed that the purported signature was made by him on the said 27 day of August, 2009, which was denied.
"There is urgent need for the court to ascertain the truth of the matter, the purported written deposition of P. O. Obiorah Director of Estate ASHDC containing a strange signature filed on 27/8/2009 is attached for comparison."
Consequently, the plaintiff applied for the discovery of some documents in the custody of the Respondent.
Upon the application, the court in an order made on March 23, 2022 which SaharaReporters obtained on Monday, Justice Ike Ogu, granted the Plaintiff/Applicant leave to file for the listed documents in the possession, control, custody of the Defendant/Respondent.
The court further made the following: "An Order to make discovery of: ASHDC-facilities and sustainable maintenance at liberation housing estate Nawfla/Enugwu-Agidi, Awka Capital Territory, Anambra State, Signed by P.O. Obiorah dated November, 2005 testifying before the Honourable Court as Defendant/Respondent witness - D.W1;
"ASHDC facilities and sustainable maintenance at liberation housing estate Nawfla/Enugwu-Agidi, Awka Capital Territory, Anambra State, Signed by P.O. Obiorah dated November, 2005; ASHDC Ref: GM.216 dated 21st November, 2003 addressed to the Principal Partner Mim Consultants 204 Nnamdi Azikiwe Avenue, P.O. Box 1351 Awka, Anambra State. Signed by P.O. Obiorah for Managing Director/ Chief Executive;
"Feasibility and Viability Report on 330 (No) Low Cost Apartment Units at Liberation Housing Estate Nawfia/ Enugwu-Agidl, Awka Capital Territory, Anambra State prepared by Anambra State Housing Development Corporation, 79 Obunagu Road, P.M.B. 5037, Awka, Anambra State - January 2006; "Specimen signature of P.O. Obiorah Director of Estate, Anambra State Housing Development Corporation, between the period 2004 and 2009; Affidavit of change of signature between the period 2004 and 2009, If he had statutorily informed government of his changed of signature and;
"Driver's Licence, Voter's Card, National ID Card, International Passport and Specimen signature of Mr. P.O. Obiorah, Director of Estate Anambra State Housing Development Corporation used in collection of his pay slip, and the Defendant/ Respondent to furnish same on oath."
But the Corporation in flagrant disobedience to the order refused to produce the documents as directed by the court.
The Corporation in seven paragraph affidavit dated 13/07/2022 deposed to by one Jennifer N. Nnamadim - Madubueze Esq. a legal practitioner serving in the Corporation stated: "That I have the consent, authority and permission of the Defendant to depose to this affidavit.
"The Defendant provides the document in compliance with order 2(1), paragraphs 1, 4 and 5, they are marked as Exhibits A, B and C.
“We could not find copy of the document stated in order 2(1) paragraphs 2 and 3 because they part of the document lost in the defendant's former office when flood water entered their office and destroyed documents therein.
"The Defendant is not in possession of the document mentioned in order 2(1) paragraphs 5 and 6. That is, the document named as (a) change of signature of P.O. Oblorah, (b) Driver's Licence, (c) Voter's Card, (d) National ID Card and (e) International Passport. They are personal document of P.O. Oblorah, they are not in the possession of the Defendant.
"P.O. Obiorah retired from the defendant since 2019."
The court has fixed November 11, 2022 for hearing on the committal to prison for disobeyed the order of the court in this suit.
SaharaReporters had reported that the plaintiff who was a former governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Anambra State petitioned the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), against a principal lawyer with the State Ministry of Justice, Chinwe G. Okonkwo-Okom for alleged professional misconduct and felony by procured a forged signature on a written deposition of P. O Obiorah to defraud the Court in Suit No. A/133/2009.