By Tony Okafor, Awka
Anambra State High Court sitting in Awka has ordered the immediate unsealing of the house of a member of the Chukwujekwu family and directed that the keys of the property be handed over to him without further delay.
The court also restrained the Chairman of Awka South Local Government Area, Prince Chinedu Okafor, and other respondents in the suit, including their associates and anyone acting on their behalf, from taking further action against the applicants pending the hearing and determination of the matter.
Justice Ike Ogu of High Court 1, Awka, made the orders on Monday, November 2, 2026, following an application by the applicants’ counsel, Prof M.M. Umeweke.
The application, marked A/1743/2026M and dated October 12, 2026, sought interim orders restraining the respondents from arresting the applicants and directing parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the substantive suit.
Moving the application, Umenweke described the injunctions sought as innocuous, arguing that they were necessary to protect the applicants from further infringement of their fundamental rights.
He informed the court that two of the applicants were minors and urged it to intervene to prevent further actions against the family.
The lawyer also told the court that the first applicant had allegedly been locked out of his premises by the first respondent and persons acting on his behalf.
He consequently sought an order directing the unsealing of the property and restoration of access to the first applicant.
The application was supported by a 34-paragraph affidavit and a written address, upon which the counsel relied in urging the court to grant the reliefs sought.
In his ruling, Justice Ogu granted the applicants’ requests, restraining the respondents, their associates and anyone acting on their behalf from taking further action against the applicants until the hearing and determination of the suit.
The judge also ordered that the first applicant’s house be unsealed and that the keys be handed over to him without further delay.
The court further granted an order for substituted service on the respondents.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to December 7, 2026, for hearing.
The suit was instituted by four members of the Chukwujekwu family, namely Mr Chukwujekwu Sylvester Anaekwe, Kamisi Chukwujekwu, 15, Awele Chukwujekwu, eight, and Zikora Chukwujekwu, six.
The respondents include the Awka South Local Government Chairman, Prince Chinedu Okafor; Chukwunenye Maduka, also known as Okadigbo; Kingsley Ugochukwu Okonwa; Ekene Nwankwo, also known as Okenwa; and Mr Ken Emeakaghi, Special Adviser to the Anambra State Governor on Security.
Others are the Anambra State Agunechemba, Anambra State Security Supervisory Committee, Awka; Awka South Local Government Security Supervisory Committee; ASP George Onunze; the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State; the Nigeria Police Service Commission; the Nigeria Police Force; and Anayo Nkemdilim.
The applicants instituted the action under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009, seeking the enforcement of their rights to personal liberty, dignity of the human person, private and family life, freedom of movement and right to property.
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