The three years legal battle between Mrs. Nnenna Ezenwa and Rev Fr. Ejike Nwankwo, may have been resolved following the agreement reached for an out of court settlement of their matter at a Federal High Court in Awka, Anambra State, before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba.
Mrs Ezenwa had alleged that the priest defrauded her of about N27 million, after which she sued the priest at the Federal High Court, Awka, Anambra State.
The Police subsequently charged the defendants in suit marked FHC/Awka/31/21 with offences bordering on fraudulent activities, violence, assault, malicious damage and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
When the matter came up, Justice Dimgba, who brokered the peaceful settlement between the warring parties earlier reminded the Priest about the implication of allowing the case to linger.
But on hearing the judge’s advice, Rev Nwankwo agreed to pay Mrs Ezenwa N17 million out of the alleged N27 million she was demanding as money spent on refurbishing and equipping a moribund filling station, which is the subject matter of the case.
Consequently, Justice Dimgba took all the parties present, including the Police prosecutor to his chambers and initiated a zoom conference meeting with Mrs Ezenwa, who is in America, where the priest agreed to pay Mrs Ezenwa in two installments of N10 million on November 24, 2023 and the balance of N7 million on January 24, 2024.
The judge, however, adjourned the case to February 1, 2024 for a report to the court, if the matter had finally been settled.
The priest also released the alleged property, including a 4 Runner Jeep, one bus and three engines belonging to Mrs Ezenwa.
Mrs Ezenwa had reported to the Police, alleging that Rev Fr Nwankwo had fraudulently deceived her into investing N26,986,000 in his moribund company, comprising a filling station, and cash of N4,250,000 for other things required to refurbish the company.
He added that the priest edged her out of the business using hoodlums to attack her, inflicting injuries on her, and threatened to kill her.
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