By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukmeluwa
A legal tussle between a clergyman and his journalist tenant in Asaba has ended in anticlimax after the court struck out the suit due to the pastor’s repeated failure to appear before the court.
Pastor Sunday Ogbogho of the Redeemed Christian Church of God had dragged Kenneth Orusi, a journalist, before the Area Customary Court III in Asaba, Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State, over a tenancy dispute. However, the case was struck out by the three-member panel led by D.O. Oghome Esq., following what the court described as “lack of diligent prosecution” on the part of the plaintiff.
In the certified judgment of suit number OSCC/111/72/2025 dated June 26, 2025, the panel stated that the pastor’s persistent absence showed he had no real intention of pursuing the case.
The court had initially adjourned the matter to April 24 after its presiding members were unavailable, but when the matter resumed, Pastor Ogbogho was nowhere to be found. The case was adjourned again to June 26. On that date, the pastor failed once more to appear, while Orusi was present on both occasions, prepared to defend himself.
Speaking outside the courtroom, Orusi expressed relief, saying, “It’s unfortunate that someone who claims to be a man of God would institute a case and then abandon it. I’m happy the court saw through it and acted accordingly.”
A court official who declined to be named noted that such cases are not uncommon. “We see situations where claimants bring cases and never return. It clogs the court system. This ruling sends a message—if you want justice, you must be serious.”
The ruling not only vindicates Orusi but also underscores a growing problem within Nigeria’s legal system, where frivolous or poorly pursued cases contribute to congestion and delay. The matter now serves as a lesson on the importance of commitment when seeking redress through legal channels.