Emmanuel Ukudolo l Thursday, July 04, 2019
LAGOS, Nigeria – Issues relating to age grades are once more on the front burner in the South East. They have become so problematic leaving many religious organisations at their mercy. Many have lost their farmlands and their means of livelihood, forcing many, notably Jehovah’s Witnesses to relocate to be able to earn a living.
This is taking place even when the Supreme Court had ruled otherwise. Way back in 1992, age grades made lives unbearable for Samuel Okogbue, one of the Jehovah’s Witnesses who worked as a tailor in Aba, Nigeria.
“Early in 1978, members of the Umunkalu Age Grade Association of Alayi demanded that he pay a “tax” to help build a health center. As a true Christian, Samuel goes out of his way to help other people, but he conscientiously refused to be involved with the age grade group.
“On April 22, 1978 six members of the group broke into his shop and seized his sewing machine, which they said they would hold until he paid the money. Samuel protested that he was not obliged to pay anything since he was not a member of their association. When he could not recover his sewing machine, Samuel took the matter to court”, the Watchtower of December 15, 1992 page 19 – 20 reported on https://www.jw.org.
Samuel won the case at the Magistrate court, but Umunkalu Age Grade Association of Alayi appealed and won at the High court. The Judge ordered Samuel to pay the tax, stating that it was simply a way of contributing to the development of his native community. But Samuel Okogbue appealed and won at the Appeal Court. But in despiration to have their way, the age grade association appealed. Before judgement could be delivered, the group became busy misinforming the Umunkalu community members that Jehovah’s Witnesses were against all community projects.
“They convinced the village head to ban the activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the area. The town crier announced that anyone who had dealings with Jehovah’s Witnesses would be fined. Witnesses from neighboring towns intervened and clarified the matter for the older men in the village. They explained that God’s people were in no way opposed to community development. In fact, Samuel had produced receipts in court proving that he had contributed to community projects that were not sponsored by age grade groups. The village elders then reversed their decision to ostracize the Witnesses”, the Watchtower reported.
Samuel Okogbue finally got justice on October 21, 1991. In deciding the case, the five justices of the Nigerian Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of Samuel.
Speaking on the lead judgement delivered by Justice Paul Nwokedi, Justice Abubakar Wali stated: “It is not the levy [imposed tax] that the respondent [Samuel] is opposed to paying but being a member of any society, club or age grade, as this is against his religious belief, he being a member of Jehovah’s witness[es].
“The 1963 Constitution, section 24(1) guaranteed to all Nigerian citizens freedom of conscience, thought, and religion. The respondent is entitled to hold to the tenet of his religion, thought and conscience which prohibit him from joining the Age grade. Any custom that holds otherwise is contrary to the Constitution and therefore null and void to that extent,” he said.
