Brave Dickson
One Kalahari born professional cultural dancer, Mrs Ujo Israel Dagogo-jack as she is now called has lost again in court on the same matter she was earlier found guilty and sentenced to prison on.
The ex-convict who was known and addressed as Mrs OJu Bob-Mannuel as at the time she was convicted by a magistrate court in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital around 2012 for defrauding Princess Nume Mangibo was said to have once been residing in the United States of America.
Narrating the situation to our correspondent, shortly after a State High Court, presided over by Justice I Wodi entered judgment in her favour, the complainant, Mangibo said, “I introduced her (Oju) to my fiance in US.
“During the period of our marriage around 2005, my fiance started sending things to her such as money both in foreign and Nigeria currencies, cosmetic boxes to deliver to me here in Nigeria which she never did.
“I discovered it much later and Instituted criminal charges against her before a magistrate court in Port Harcourt after she refused to give me the items.
“The court found her guilty and sentenced her to prison but she paid fine in place of serving.
“As if that was not enough, she (Oju) went and summons me before our Kalahari council of chiefs on the said matter after I have forgiven her and did not insist to collect the items she (Oju) defrauded me of.
“I was not happy by her action. On that reason, I instituted a civil action against her before a state high court to recover all she (Oju) stole from me.”
Mangibo also expressed happiness over both the criminal and civil litigations against Oju that went in her favour.
Delivering judgment, Justice Wodi who earlier dismissed a motion brought by Oju’s lawyer, Barr Wilcox to stand down the judgment, therefore ordered the defendant (Oju) to pay the claimant (Mangibo) the sum of 200,000 naira as general damage.
The court also ordered the defendant to release the cosmetic box in her possession to the claimant, 2,500 dollars stolen from the claimant as well as 320,
000 naira relief sought by the claimant.
On her part, counsel to the claimant, Barr. Mary Dikibo hailed the judgment, describing it as well deserved.
According to her, “the last motion brought by the defendant was an attempt to delay Justice” and commended the court for dismissing it.
Also speaking, lawyer to the defendant, Barr Wilcox said the essence of the motion was to allow the matter to be heard on merit.
“Though ample hearing notices were given to my client and her previous lawyers which they failed to utilize.
“The court in its wisdom felt our motion came too late after the defendant had been foreclosed and ready to deliver judgment.
“Well, we will study the judgment and advice our client accordingly,” Wilcox said.
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