By BONIFACE AKARAH

Tension has emerged in Otukpo, Benue State, following allegations that operatives of the Nigeria Police Force arrested and harassed members of a local church community despite a subsisting court judgment dismissing a competing ownership claim over a mission school.

The Incident reportedly occurred on resumption day at Livingstone Academy, an American-founded mission school, weeks after the Benue State High Court dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Ochenjele family against retired Supreme Court Justice James Ogenyi Ogebe.

In its March 31, 2026 judgment, the court threw out the suit, citing lack of locus standi, inconsistencies in the plaintiffs’ claims, and failure to prove key allegations.

The court held that “the 4th plaintiff is not the same as Livingstone Academy… and has no right whatsoever to maintain the present action,” ordering that the party be struck out of the case.

It further ruled that the corporate entity relied upon by the plaintiffs was incorporated in 2022—two years after the death of the individual from whom the claim was derived—raising questions about the legal basis of the ownership claim.

“The 4th Plaintiff is a company which is separate and distinct from the subscribers to its memo,” the court stated, adding that the late Samuel Ochenjele “was not shown anywhere… to be a shareholder.”

Despite the judgment, community members alleged that police officers stormed the school premises and took away some individuals.

“They came and started taking people away even after we showed them the court judgment,” a community member said. “They admitted they saw the documents, but still went ahead.”

Another witness described the development as alarming.

“We don’t understand why anyone would still be using the police after losing in court,” the source said. “This is intimidation.”

Sources within the community claim the police action may have been triggered by renewed complaints linked to the dismissed ownership dispute, though this could not be independently verified.

Legal observers say the situation raises concerns about enforcement of court decisions and the role of law enforcement in civil disputes.

“A valid court judgment remains binding unless set aside by a higher court,” a legal practitioner familiar with the matter said. “Any action that appears to undermine that raises serious rule-of-law questions.”

As of the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Police Force had not issued an official statement explaining the arrests or the basis for its intervention.

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