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By Madu Obi
A South African based activist, Boniface Okonkwo has begged the chairman of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, Sir Emeka Offor for an out of court settlement over an alleged defamatory publication against Offor.
A cleric, Pastor CY Okonkwo had waded into the feud between Sir Offor and Okonkwo, who are both from Oraifite in Ekwusigo local government area of Anambra State.
Okonkwo was arrested and detained by the police on January 3, 2024 for posting in the social media that the electricity meter manufacturing company commissioned in Oraifite, which is owned by Offor, was an empty warehouse, intended to defraud the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The Anambra State Police command arrested Okonkwo for alleged criminal defamation and some people believed that it was Offor that instigated the arrest.
The court had refused bail for Okonkwo since January which, perhaps, forced the cleric to wade into the matter.
At the resumed hearing of the matter at the Anambra High Court sitting in Nnewi, Pastor Okonkwo, who is an elder brother to the activist, said he had made consultations that might result to out of court settlement of the matter.
He said: "Boniface is my younger brother and we are from Oraifite. Emeka Offor is also from Oraifite, and so, we're kinsmen.. "
"We're sueing for peace because one can win a case without having peace with his brother; in such case, there will be no progress in the town."
"The Bible says, follow peace with all men, how much more your town's brother. I want peace to prevail between my brother and Emeka Offor so that there will be progress in our town."
" I'm talking about settling out of court. I have gone to Offor through the President General of Oraifite. I have spoken to him. There are things we discussed which I don't think can be made public"
"I have consulted some people that areclose to him; they have spoken to him and we're thinking there's a kind of progress."
"The way I'm looking at it, he (Offor) is likely to accept our entreaties. We have been pleading with him for peace."
Counsel to the defendant, Oseleka Osuigwe, SAN, alluded to the fact that settling out of court would not be a bad option.
Osuigwe said: "As a minister in the temple of justice, it's my duty to promote settlement where possible. If it's not possible, we continue with the hearing of the matter.
"So, I cannot stand in the way of settlement. It's not a felony, so nobody will be accused of compounding felony. It's a matter that can be settled. Even the court, is enjoined by rules of court to promote settlement.
"But for now, my duty is to defend him; but if the family wishes to explore other opportunities, I will not be against it, but I won't take the initiative, because it's not my duty to do so. If the court is amenable to the family's move for out of court settlement, we say all that's starts well that ends well."
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