Some landlords, tenants and residents of Okpoko Community in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State have approached the High Court of Anambra State, Ogbaru Judicial Division, seeking to restrain community leaders and associated bodies from further demanding or enforcing a disputed ₦400 Security/Vigilante Levy pending the determination of their substantive suit.
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The action, Suit No. AT/75/2026, was instituted by High Chief Raphael Agu, Comrade Obumnaeke Ohiagu and Anayo Ojinnaka, for themselves and on behalf of concerned landlords, tenants and residents of Okpoko Community.
Named as defendants are Chief Charles Ezeokafor, Chief Ikechukwu Unogu and Ugochukwu Onyeguiri, who were sued for themselves and on behalf of the executive members of the Okpoko Community Development Union; Onyebuchi Obi, described as Chairman of the Okpoko Central Landlords Association; and Emeka Omire, described as Chairman of the Okpoko Property Owners Association.
The writ of summons, dated August 17, 2026 and bearing the stamp of the High Court Registry, Atani, dated August 18, directs the defendants to enter appearance within 42 days of service, failing which the plaintiffs may proceed and judgment may be given in their absence.
Alongside the substantive suit, the plaintiffs filed a Motion on Notice, identified as Motion No. AT/273M/2026, pursuant to Order 3 Rule 1 of the High Court of Anambra State (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019 and the inherent jurisdiction of the court.
In the motion, the plaintiffs are asking the court for an interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants, whether acting by themselves or through their servants, agents, privies or workmen, from taking any further step to implement what they described as a “unilateral increased Security/Vigilante Levy of ₦400.00 per tenant/resident” pending the hearing and final determination of the substantive suit.
They are also seeking another interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants and persons acting for them from allegedly “invading in a Commando style” the premises of the plaintiffs and other Okpoko residents for the purpose of demanding payment of the contested levy.
As an alternative, the applicants want the court to order all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the hearing and final determination of the substantive action.
They further asked the court to make such other or wider orders as it may consider appropriate.
The application was signed by A.G. Ogbachalu, Esq., ACIArb (UK), ALD; A.C. Onah, Esq., FIAHRC; Georgian Ogechi Opara, LL.M (London); P.U. Okereke, Esq.; and AIG Dr T.J. Ogunsakin (Rtd.), Esq., LL.M, of GIN & Alexi Solicitors-LP.
No determination has yet been made on the prayers contained in the interlocutory application.
Following the filing of the suit and motion, lawyers for the plaintiffs also issued a formal notice to the Divisional Police Officer, Okpoko Divisional Headquarters, and the President-General of Okpoko Community, demanding that further collection or enforcement of the disputed levy be halted while the matter remains before the court.
The notice, dated August 18, 2026, was issued by Goshen Lawlords Solicitors on behalf of Agu, Ohiagu and Ojinnaka.
The lawyers said their clients’ attention had been drawn to the continued demand for the Security/Vigilante Levy and an alleged proposed levy enforcement drive involving executives of the Okpoko Community Development Union represented by Chief Charles Ezeokafor and persons allegedly acting with the union’s authority.
They further alleged that the proposed exercise would have the backing of armed security personnel.
The lawyers drew the attention of the DPO and the community leadership to the pending case before the High Court, stressing that questions surrounding the authority, legality and propriety of demanding and collecting the levy from landlords, tenants and residents were now before the court.
“The matter is presently sub judice, and the rights and obligations of the parties in respect of the subject matter are yet to be finally determined by the Honourable Court,” the notice stated.
They warned that further demands, collection, enforcement, threats, coercion or intimidation calculated to compel residents to pay the disputed levy while the suit remains pending could, in their view, alter the status quo or render the eventual outcome of the proceedings nugatory.
Under a section titled “Demand To Maintain Status Quo,” the lawyers specifically asked the DPO and the Nigeria Police Force, Okpoko Divisional Headquarters, to desist from participating in, facilitating or lending police authority to the collection or enforcement of the levy pending determination of the suit.
They similarly demanded that the President-General of Okpoko Community, together with officers, agents, committees, representatives and persons acting under his authority, stop further demands for payment from landlords, tenants and residents until the court determines the dispute.
The lawyers also demanded that no landlord, tenant or resident should be subjected to threats, harassment, intimidation, arrest, police invitation, detention, eviction, restriction, denial of community services or any other adverse consequence merely for refusing to pay the disputed levy while the issue remains before the court.
They further called on all parties and persons acting for them to maintain the status quo ante and refrain from taking steps capable of prejudicing the rights of the parties or interfering with the subject matter of the proceedings.
On the role of the police, the notice stated that officers should maintain their constitutional and statutory neutrality and should not allow the machinery of the Nigeria Police Force to be deployed to determine or enforce a dispute already submitted to the court.
“The Police should maintain their constitutional and statutory neutrality and should not permit the machinery of the Nigeria Police Force to be used to determine, enforce or resolve what is substantially a matter presently before the Honourable Court,” the lawyers stated.
They, however, clarified that the notice was not intended to interfere with the lawful duties of the police in preventing or investigating genuine criminal offences.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this letter is not intended to interfere with the lawful functions of the Nigeria Police Force in preventing or investigating genuine criminal offences. Rather, it is a formal demand that the Police should not be used as an instrument for coercive collection or enforcement of a disputed levy which is the subject of pending judicial proceedings,” the notice read.
The plaintiffs’ lawyers warned that should the demand, collection or enforcement of the levy continue after receipt of the notice, their clients would take further legal steps without additional correspondence.
They said such steps could include seeking consequential orders from the High Court to protect the rights and interests of the landlords, tenants and residents represented in the suit.
The lawyers also threatened to seek appropriate orders and remedies against any person, body or authority found to have participated in or facilitated what they described as unlawful interference with the subject matter of the pending proceedings.
“We therefore urge you to exercise the necessary restraint and ensure that the status quo is preserved pending the determination of the suit before the Ogbaru Judicial Division,” they stated.
“Kindly treat this letter as a formal notice and demand to desist.”
The notice was signed by AIG T.J. Ogunsakin (Rtd.), Esq., ACIArb (UK), LL.M (London), LL.D; A.G. Ogbachalu, Esq., ACIArb (UK), ALD; and M.N. Nwibe, Esq., as solicitors to the plaintiffs.
Copies of the notice were forwarded to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 13 Headquarters, Ukpo; the Director of the State Security Service, Anambra State Command; the Anambra State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists; Chidiebere Anasiudu, Esq., identified as legal adviser/counsel to the defendants; and the Registrar of the High Court of Justice, Ogbaru Judicial Division.
The dispute is now before the High Court for determination, with the plaintiffs seeking judicial intervention over the legality and enforcement of the ₦400 Security/Vigilante Levy and, in the interim, an order preventing further enforcement while the substantive issues remain unresolved.
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