Court admits Benin Traditional Council in suit challenging Oba of Benin’s authority

The Edo State High Court sitting in Benin has admitted the Benin Traditional Council (BTC) as a party in the suit filed by suspended Enigie (Dukes) in Benin.

The Dukes had filed the suit against Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, Oba of Benin, to challenge their suspension.

Two suspended  Dukes, Professor Gregory Akenzua and Chief Edomwonyi Ogiegbaen, had on behalf of others, sued the Oba of Benin, claiming that it is only the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, who removed them from office and not the monarch who pronounced their suspension.

At the hearing on Thursday, Justice Peter Akhihiero granted the first defendant’s prayer to include the Benin Traditional Council as the 3rd Defendant in the suit marked, B/250os/2023, while Oba Ewuare II and Edo State Government, are the 1st and 2nd defendants respectively.

The ruling was in response to an application filed by the 1st Defendant Counsel lead Counsel, Prof. Yemi Akinseye-George, SAN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie and his team against the Claimants, Prof. Gregory Akenzua, and Edomwonyi Ogiegbaen who both took the Oba of Benin to court.

The plaintiff counsel had objected to the motion through the Counsel of Oba Ewuare II, to amend their relevant documents in the case to reflect the decision.

While other parties in the suit aligned with the position of Oba Ewuare II Counsel to join  BTC in the suit, the Claimants through their Counsel prayed the Court not to list the BTC as a party in the suit and urged the Court to award Cost against Oba of Benin in favour of the Claimants.

But, Justice Peter Akhihiero, turned down the prayers, and held that Obayuwana should not worry about the timing, insisting that “The race is not for the swift, or the battle for the strong”.

According to him, “If they were bringing in the Traditional Council as necessary, I don’t see this as a problem since you people have brought the Oba to court. I don’t think I can shut down any party. Let them come in and file their processes,” Akhihiero said, and adjourned hearing in the case to 15th July 2024 in the absence of any injection”.