Residents of Abia State have blasted an item-born Aba-based lawyer, Emperor Ogbonna, for dragging the National Assembly and five others to the Federal High Court, Umuahia Judicial Division.
DrumAfricanews learnt that Ogbonna went to court over steps to relocate the Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, located in Item, to the Bende community and to swap the said Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Item, with the Federal College of Education located in the Bende community.
In suit no: FHC/UM/CS/176/2026, dated and filed on the 23rd day of October, 2026, was instituted by Emperor Ogbonna, on his own behalf as an indigene of Item, and on behalf of other indigenes and residents of Item, against the National Assembly, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and Hon. Julius Ihonvbere, who allegedly sponsored the amendment bill, for taking steps to amend the Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Item (Establishment) Act, 2025, with the view of swapping the official location of the Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, located in Item, with the Federal College of Education, located in the Bende community.
Reacting to this, a popular Aba-based activist, Dom Nik, blasted the lawyer for double standards, describing him as clannish, stressing that “Emperor will defend his clan and people; they conferred on him a chieftaincy title; I think it is Onunaekwuruoha of Item. There is nothing wrong with that. Nobody calls him CLANNISH!
“Another person stands to advocate for his people; Empero will lead a mob crowd, characterising the person as being CLANNISH!
“What manner of dishonesty is this? Empero Gabriel Ogbonna is taking the National Assembly and others to court. Why is he going to court?
“He is going to court to stop the National Assembly from moving a proposed university from his ‘CLAN’ to another place within his council and less than a 10-minute drive. No, he is not CLANNISH.
“However, Empero will stand at Bata Junction fountain to cry that anybody who pressures the Governor to build a road in his community is CLANNISH.”
In a further reaction, Charles Uchechukwu Thomas, another Aba-based social and political commentator, advised Emperor Igboona not to worsen the situation in Item through what appears to be a fundamental misunderstanding of the legislative process.
Thomas advised Ogbonna to realise that what Item people need now is wise advocacy and not a legal stunt and theatrics, adding that he thought that Ogbonna as a lawyer, would understand that the National Assembly has constitutional powers to make and amend laws.
According to Thomas, “Neither the Federal High Court nor the Supreme Court can simply be used to stop a legislative arm from discharging its constitutional responsibilities without a valid legal basis. The judiciary has powers of review, certainly, but that is not the same as possessing an unrestricted licence to halt legislative proceedings.
“More importantly, if your objective is genuinely to protect the interest of Item, why not first explore the available legislative channels? You could submit a formal appeal to the National Assembly through your representative, engage the relevant committees and present your reasons for opposing the proposed amendment. After all, the establishment of this university was itself the product of a legislative process.
“If you believe the proposed relocation violates the law, then establish the precise legal provision being breached. Do not assume that because Item donated land and invested resources in the proposed university site, the National Assembly has permanently forfeited its constitutional authority to reconsider the institution’s location.
“In the case between the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners v. President of the Senate & Ors., Suit No. NICN/ABJ/75/2024, the National Industrial Court addressed the limits of judicial intervention in legislative proceedings.
“The decision offers a useful reminder that courts must carefully distinguish between restraining the legislative process and reviewing the legality of an enacted law.
“Of course, no one is suggesting that the National Assembly is above the law. But neither should litigation become the first resort whenever a political or legislative decision becomes inconvenient.”
Thomas said that he can understand the temptation Ogbonna is facing to attract public attention but advised that he must not reduce an issue as important as the future of the item to political theatrics.
He went on to ask if Ogbonna’s move is another campaign strategy designed to exploit the limited understanding of unsuspecting members of the public. He advised him to note that the item needs solutions, not sensationalism.
Thomas advised that Abians must also learn to appreciate those who have made meaningful contributions to their community, stressing that they cannot ignore the role of Rt Hon. Benjamin Kalu in facilitating the establishment of the university, an institution conceived as an opportunity for Ndi Item and the entire Bende Federal Constituency.
He said that if there are legitimate concerns about the proposed amendment, let them be addressed with facts, sound legal arguments and strategic engagement.
“But rushing into litigation without establishing the precise legal basis for the reliefs sought could complicate an already delicate situation.
“The university is too important to become a casualty of political ambition. Our priority should be to protect the interests of the item, not to create a legal and political battle whose consequences may ultimately hurt the very people we claim to represent.
“Emperor, the question is not whether you can file a suit. The question is whether your approach will deliver the university the item or merely deliver headlines to you.
“Ndi Item deserve better than a contest of egos. They deserve wisdom, strategic thinking and leadership that places the community above personal political interests. The most interesting part is that the university is not being moved.”
