Ikeja stood still for Patrick Arueze, physically challenged
Emmanuel Ukudolo l Wednesday, January 29, 2020
IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria – The serenity that pervaded Oba Akinjobi Way, one of the most popular roads in GRA, Ikeja, Lagos was shattered on Wednesday, January 29, when some physically challenged persons, led by Patrick Arueze invaded the area.
Armed with placards and banners on which they inscribed various messages, challenging the judiciary to come out clean on N8.9 million judgement sum secured against members of the now defunct Psquare, originally made up of Peter Okoye, Paul Okoye and Jude Okoye.
Patrick Arueze and his gang alleged that the total judgement sum was deposited with the Court Registrar in Ikeja since 2016 and that efforts to get the money has proved abortive.
He told our correspondent that it was the second time in two weeks that he is visiting the office of the Chief Justice of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba for the purpose of retrieving the money, all to no avail and decided to storm the court with his men.
As he puts it, “I am prepared to die here,” he told this reporter. And so, he and about 15 others managed to gain access to the office of the CJ and began their protest.
Acting on instructions from the Court Registrar, Patrick Arueze and his gang were chased away. They consequently pitched their tent right in front of the main entrance, vowing that unless they are attended to, nobody will have access to the court. But again, they were chased away, forcing them to find solace in the very busy Oba Akinjobi Way.
They sat on the bare floor with their placards and banners and forced a bullion van and its excort to make a detour. For hours, traffic was at a complete standstill. Not even the men in uniform could dare Arueze and his men who were ready to die for what they called justice.
It took wisdom on the part of some senior police officers to persuade them to have a meeting with Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu who was also not in office. But some senior officers attended to them. Journalists were locked out of that crucial meeting.
The roots of the crisis
Patrick Arueze had put up a musical show in 2011 in Benin and then most popular musical group, Psquare was lined up among other musicians to thrill the very vibrant music lovers. But unfortunately, Psquare failed to show up, forcing the disappointed spectators to go on rampage, destroying almost everything within reach.
Left with no option but to refund money for tickets already purchased, Patrick Arueze, who put together the show had to convert his private vehicle into a commercial vehicle to be able to pay up the debt he incurred from sales of tickets.
“It was in the process of working to pay the debt that I had the accident that disfigured. I was in hospital for years in India. As I stand, I am still on artificial support in my waist and legs yet to be operated upon, “ he told starconnectmedia.com
To set matters right, Patrick Arueze approached the court and he obtained judgement in the sum of N8.9 million in suit No. B/217/2011. The defendants, Jude Okoye, Peter Okoye, Paul Okoye and Square Records appealed the judgement in Appeal No: CA/B/442M/2016. They also filed a motion seeking an order of Stay of Execution of the judgement. But during the sitting on the 15th day of November 2016, his Lordship, Justice Moore A.A. Adumein after hearing from I.S Oluwagbemiga, counsel to the appellants/applicants and Mrs. P.E Chukwu counsel for the respondent ruled as follows:
“That the motion on notice filled by the applicants on 15/11/2016 lacks merit and it is hereby refused and dismissed accordingly. Cost of N30,000 was also awarded in favour of the respondent against the appellants/ applicants.
Patrick Arueze told our correspondent that the judgement was enforced in Lagos and that the respondents allegedly compromised sheriffs who executed the judgment on his behalf.
In a letter to the Chief Registrar, Lagos State Judiciary dated September 14, 2016, Asenoguan Oghahenhen and Associates introduced Patrick Arueze as their client.
According to them, Patrick Arueze obtained judgement in suit dated December 16, 2014,” and due to the fact that the judgement debtors were ordinarily resident in Lagos State, the said judgement was registered in Lagos and hereby became the judgement of the Lagos State High Court for the purpose of the execution, he said.
“Our client”, the lawyer, added ” has further informed us that in 19th February 2016, after meeting up with all the requirements, execution was carried out by the officials of the court against the judgement debtor.
“It is our client case that in a strange manner he was informed that the judgement debtor has issued a post dated cheque to the court officials, which they accepted from him. However, up till now, the said cheque is yet to be presented and cash handed over to our client.
“It is our client’s case that the cheque is about to become stale and the execution having been done, he is entitled to the fruits of his judgment. It is therefore our client’s demand that the cheque collected for his benefit be presented and the cash given to him or at worst kept in an interest yielding account if there is any impediment as to the release of the money to him, the lawyer said, adding that their client is not aware of any reason why the said cheque has not been presented as the execution is concluded.
Lagos Judiciary replies Patrick Arueze
But since 2016, notting significant has been achieved. We could not reach the Chief Judge of Lagos, Justice Kazeem Alogba for comments on the issue. But we gathered that the cheque could not be cashed due to alteration. But that the CJ arranged a meeting with Patrick Arueze for Tuesday but that Patrick failed to turn up only to show up with his gang on Wednesday.
We gathered that the CJ who had earlier entertained him was away on official duty. A senior official who spoke on condition of anonymity said Patrick Arueze had been advised to file for re-execution but that he failed to show up for so many years until last week when he met with the CJ and that he was supposed to meet with relevant officials after failing to attend a meeting scheduled at his behest but turned up with his men, sat down and embarked on a show of intimidation.
According to the official, the sheriff that went for the execution could not execute and that Patrick Arueze stayed away for fear of his life in the process of execution and that some of the sheriffs were injured and that on Patrick’s instruction the sheriffs, some already sacked collected a post-dated cheque which ought not to be.
“You cannot collect a post dated cheque but a bank draft,” she said, adding that efforts are being made to effect proper execution since it involves a judicial process. We were informed that the CJ has also agreed to waive refilling fees as a way of assisting Patrick Arueze to reap the benefit of the judgement. The N8.9 million has been accumulating interest since 2014.
