Prominent businessman, Chief Vincent Udobi, alongside 11 others are to be arraigned before an Anambra State High Court sitting in Awka on June 19, 2026, over the alleged assault of former President General of Ifitedunu community, Chief Uchenna Nwoye.
The 12 defendants are facing charges bordering on assault, attempted murder, conspiracy to kill, stealing and related offences following an incident in 2023 in which Nwoye was allegedly attacked and seriously injured while serving as PG of the community.
According to a petition submitted by Nwoye to the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, the attack was allegedly carried out by persons suspected to be thugs working for Udobi.
Nwoye claimed that the assault left him with spinal cord injuries for which he is still receiving treatment abroad.
The petition, which was investigated by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), reportedly led to the filing of charges against Udobi and the other defendants.
When the matter came up in court on May 22, Udobi and one of the accused persons, Arinze Azodo, were absent, citing ill health.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to June 19 for arraignment.
Nwoye recounted that the incident occurred in 2023 when he and members of his executive visited a project site at Nkwo Market, Ifitedunu, for oversight supervision.
Attack by thugs
He alleged that they were attacked by thugs accompanying Udobi, whom he accused of opposing his emergence as President General.
Nwoye further claimed that a video of the incident showed Udobi allegedly participating in the assault in the presence of police officers.
“Since then, I have continued treatment for spinal cord injuries sustained from the attack, and I have medical reports to that effect,” he said.
Nwoye also alleged that the defendants had repeatedly delayed court proceedings through preliminary objections, which he said were dismissed by the court on March 6, 2026.
He further disclosed that efforts by some prominent individuals to resolve the matter out of court had failed.
Speaking on the root of the conflict, Nwoye alleged that Udobi had opposed his emergence as President General and preferred another candidate for the position.
“The genesis of the matter was that he did not want me to become President General of Ifitedunu.
“He supported another candidate, and after I emerged, he allegedly vowed to frustrate my leadership,” he claimed.
Intimidation allegation
Meanwhile, Nwoye has raised concerns over what he described as attempts to intimidate him and his witnesses into withdrawing the case.
He alleged that on March 6, 2026, operatives of the Special Investigation Unit (SIU), Abuja, arrested him alongside two of his witnesses shortly after a court sitting over allegations of kidnapping and armed robbery contained in a petition reportedly written by two individuals identified as Kenneth Aforka and Aye Okoye.
According to him, the two witnesses arrested alongside him are also witnesses in the case against Udobi and the other defendants.
He said he suspected the allegations were aimed at intimidating him and discouraging him from pursuing the case.
The allegations by Nwoye could not be independently verified as of the time of filing this report.
