Report reaching GrassRoots.ng indicates that Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, founder of the Movement for the actualization of a Sovereign state of Biafra, MASSOB, has been sentenced to one month in jail.
Chief Uwazuruike was sentenced for disobeying a court order by Owerri high court.
He was handed down the sentence for disobeying a directive to appear in court for a case in which he is a plaintiff.
Presiding Justice Kemakolam Ojiako made the order in the civil case, HOW/265/2013, between Uwazuruike (plaintiff) and Barr. Chigozie Iheama and others over a land dispute.
Ruling on the motion on notice filed on July 6, 2017, by C.K. Okorie, counsel to the defendant, praying the court to commit the plaintiff/contemnor to prison for disobeying the order of the court, Ojiako ruled that,
“The plaintiff, Chief Raphael Uwazuruike, is hereby found guilty of contempt/disobedience to the said order of court made on April 2, 2017. That the plaintiff, Chief Raphael Uwazuruike, is hereby committed/sentenced to prison custody and shall be so detained for a period of one month from the date of his commitment to prison.”
Uwazuruike, his agents, privies or servants were also restrained from entering the land. Proceedings were adjourned to June 10, 2018.