By CHARLES IWUOHA

A group, South-East for President 2023 (SEFORP2023), has been slammed with a suit at an Enugu High Court for allegedly using the project to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians.

SEFORP2023 was dragged to court by a lawyer, Mr. Obiezu Nwachukwu, who filed the charge in the court on October 15, 2020.

Listed as defendants in the matter are: the Commissioner for Human Capital Development and Poverty Reduction, Enugu State; the Director of Cooperative Societies, Enugu State; SEFORP 2023 Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society and Rev. Christopher Obioha.

In the suit Number E/727/202, Nwachukwu told the court that despite the registration of the 3rd Defendant, SEFORP2023 Multi-purpose Society Limited, under Nigerian Cooperative Societies Act by the 4th Defendant, who is also the president of the 3rd Defendant, he had continued to use SEFORP2023 to organise political conferences/meetings.

The litigant said that the 4th Defendant had continued to use SEFORP2023 to canvass for the election of a South-East President in 2023, and allegedly fraudulently extort monies from unsuspecting members of the public.

According to him, copies of flyers created and distributed for this purpose are attached herewith and collectively marked as Exhibit 3 in the suit filed.

He said: “That I know as a matter of fact, that the 4th Defendant using the 3rd Defendant has been sending text messages of proposed conferences and sending out account number of the 3rd Defendant with a commercial bank, soliciting for funds from unsuspecting members of the public.

“Copies of the messages sent out by the 4th Defendant using the 4th Defendant are attached herewith as Exhibit 4.

“That I know that the First Bank account with account number 2034516784, belonging to SEFORP2023 Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society Ltd, has consistently been used for soliciting funds for political purposes by the 4th Defendant as against the bye laws of the 3rd Defendant and the provisions of the Nigerian Cooperative Societies Act.”

The plaintiff is asking the court to determine “whether by the combined provisions and proper interpretation of sections 2(1A&B), 5(1), 6(1A), 11(2) and 57 of the Nigerian Cooperative Societies Act, and in view of the provisions of section 3(1) of the bye-laws of the 3rd Defendant, the 3rd Defendant can lawfully engage in political activities.

“With respect to the declaration of South-East for the presidency in 2023, as being projected and published via several media by the 3rd Defendant.

“Whether the engagement and participation in political activities by the 3rd Defendant is not against the intents and purposes of the creation and or registration of the 3rd Defendant as a cooperative society by virtue of the combined provisions of sections 2 (1A&B), 5(1), 6(1A), 11(2) and 57 of the Nigerian Cooperative Societies Act.

“Whether by virtue of the registration of the 3rd Defendant as a cooperative society in Enugu, and the limited number of the members of the 3rd Defendant as a cooperative society as contained in its registration forms, the 3rd Defendant has the legal capacity and or can lawfully engage, undertake or organize political rallies, political conferences, for the southeast presidency in 2023 for the benefit of all the southeast indigenes.

“Whether given the engagement in political activities contrary to the provisions of the Cooperative Societies Act, and the bye-laws of the 3rd Defendant, the 1st and 2nd Defendants, are not empowered to cancel the registration of the 3rd Defendant as a cooperative society.

“Whether having registered the 3rd Defendant as a cooperative society, under the Nigerian Cooperative Societies Act, the 4th Defendant can lawfully use the registered name, in any form, for any political purposes as well as issues to be determined in the suit.”

Nwankwo is also seeking an injunction restraining the 3rd Defendant, agents or howsoever and by whatever name called, in so far as it is registered under Nigerian Cooperative Societies Act from participating in any political activities in Enugu or Nigeria for the South-East presidency in 2023.

“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 3rd Defendant, whether by agents, by virtue of its registration under the Nigerian Cooperative Societies Act, from convening any meetings whatsoever for the discussion or deliberations as it affects the southeast indigenes and the southeast presidency in 2023.

“An order of this honourable court, nullifying and invalidating every and all steps taken, decisions reached, by virtue of any meetings/conferences or seminars convened by the 3rd Defendant, with respect to the discussions, decisions or agreements as it affects the southeast presidency in 2023.

“An order of this honourable court directing the 1stand 2nd Defendants to deregister or cancel the registration of the 3rd Defendant as a cooperative society, under the Nigerian Cooperative Societies Act,” he said.

When contacted for comments, Obioha said he was not aware of any pending suit as he was yet to be served.