Landlord drags tenant to Okija Shrine

Nnewi. —A landlord in Awada, suburb of Onitsha,
Anambra state, names withheld, has allegedly
dragged his tenant, Mr. Chukwudi Diribe, to the
Ogwugwuakpu-Okija shrine in Ihiala local
Government Area of the state, popularly known as
Okija Shrine over house rent.
The 70-year-old landlord, Vanguard learnt sought
the aid of the shrine when his tenant Mr. Diribe
insisted that he is not owing him N36,000 he
claimed is being owed him by the tenant.
Few days after insisting that he paid him as at when
due, an errand man from the shrine brought a letter
saying that the shrine has invited him, Mr. Diribe to
come and defend the allegation leveled against him
by his landlord.
Mr. Diribe who was terrified by the invitation,
coupled with the fact that he is a Christian saw the
invitation as a plot to dupe him and ran to the
Awada police station where he lodged the matter.
Mr. Diribe presented the letter of invitation to
newsmen which read in part:
“Ogwugwuakpu-Ubahu Ezike Okija:
Dear Chukwudi Diribe,
“Be informed that you have been sued and
summoned at the above named association by
Ogwugwuakpu authority. You are required by the
chief priest to come on the 3rd day of July 2016 at
9.00am for a peaceful settlement of this matter.
Thank you”.
The invitation letter was signed by one Chief Amusu
for Ezike Ogbudaa with a phone number therein.
Reacting, to the development, Counsel to the
tenant, Pat Agbata expressed surprise that a grand
father who is supposed to live a Christ-like life
would be involved in fetish affairs.
He said, “it is barbaric in nature and evil for a grand
father to be associated with that. He should be
made to know God and stop being a shylock
landlord because he feels his tenant is living fine.”
The Police in Awada said they are investigating the
allegation by the tenant, promising that they will
brief the press after they have concluded their
investigation.