A civil servant, Mr Stephen Monye, has dragged an Owerri-based legal practitioner and human rights activist, Chinedu Agu, before the High Court of Imo State over allegations of adultery, interference in his marriage and the breakdown of his family.
Monye, who is attached to a Federal Government parastatal, is seeking N500 million in general damages, alleging that Agu had an illicit relationship with his wife, whose identity has been withheld, which allegedly resulted in a pregnancy and subsequent abortion.
According to Democracy Newsline, Monye claimed that he initially welcomed Agu as a friend of his family because his wife shared office space with the lawyer. He alleged that he was unaware of the purported relationship until he stumbled upon WhatsApp conversations between Agu and his wife, which he described as scandalous.
In a suit filed at the High Court of Imo State, Mgbidi Judicial Division, with suit number HoU/ID/2024, Monye further alleged that Agu influenced his wife to abandon their marriage.
The court document, certified by Barrister O. O. Ndubuisi and dated October 16, 2026, reportedly contains the allegations against the lawyer.
Monye also claimed that his attempts to pursue the matter through legal channels allegedly resulted in threats to his life. He further alleged that Agu instigated his arrest by officers of the Tiger Base police unit.
According to him, he was released after police investigations, while Agu was cautioned over the alleged instigation of his arrest without sufficient evidence.
The aggrieved husband further claimed that his wife had previously admitted to having an affair with Agu in a written deposition connected to an earlier petition filed in suit number MHE/16D/2023. He said he had additional evidence to support his allegations.
Through his counsel, Richard Ibe, Monye is asking the court to award him N500 million in general damages against Agu over the alleged affair, which he maintains contributed to the collapse of his marriage.
He is also seeking N5 million as litigation costs and a monthly interest rate of 25 per cent on the claimed amount until the judgment sum is fully paid.
Beyond the monetary claims, Monye has asked the court to dissolve his marriage and grant him custody of their three children.
He argued that his wife allegedly lacks the moral capacity to properly care for, protect and raise the children if they remain in her custody.
The claimant further alleged that the incident had subjected him to persistent fear for his safety, emotional distress and traumatic experiences. He also expressed doubts about the paternity of the children born during the marriage.
When contacted by Democracy Newsline, Monye declined to comment further, explaining that the matter was already before the court and that public comments could be inappropriate. He, however, expressed determination to pursue all available legal avenues to obtain justice.
The allegations against Agu remain claims presented by the claimant and have not been established as facts by the court. Agu’s response to the allegations was not included in the report.
Source: Democracy Newsline