Delta community celebrates granting of autonomy by court

It has been celebration galore in Egrangbene community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, following a judicial declaration that granted the community autonomy to install its king.

Sons and daughters of the community on Tuesday gathered in celebration at the community’s town hall, rejoicing over the judgment delivered by the Delta State High Court, sitting in Bomadi Judicial Division, which declared Egrangbene as “an autonomous community that is distinct and separate from Oporomor clan/kingdom.”

The court presided over by Hon. Justice S. O. Adolor, delivered the judgment on July 22, 2024, in Suit No: HCB/16/202.

Justice Adolor, while delivering the judgment had partly declared, “I am in agreement that the claimants are entitled to have their king and in their kingdom distinct from Oporomor clan.”

With the court judgment, the people of Egrangbene federated communities, which comprise Egrangbene, Abadiama, Ekumugbene, Ekogbene, Ekolegbene and Ebeberegbene communities said, “It is a sweet victory for the community.”

Some of the community leaders including High Chief Etare Lucky Yoweibo, Mr. Globemi Allele and Mr. Kofi Kobuyou, stated in reaction to the judgment that “the court has proven that indeed, it’s the last hope of the common man.”

The people of Egrangbene further announced that they are “now set to have their own Pere (king) in the person of Henry Ambakaderemo Okrikpa.”

A statement jointly issued by the community leaders, copies of which were made available to journalists in Warri on Tuesday partly reads, “The elders, leaders, men women and youth of Egrangbene federated communities are hereby calling on His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori to quickly look into our prayers as granted by the Delta State High Court sitting in Bomadi, by giving a directive to the Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs to gazette our designated monarch in the person of Pere, Henry Ambakaderemo Okirikpa, to be installed as elected king of Egrangbene federated communities in no distant time.”

South-South PUNCH correspondent gathered that High Chief Etare Lucky Yoweibo, Mr Globemi Allele, Chief Oboye, Omonibeke, Mr Christopher, Mr Daniel Egberonamene and Mr Kofi Kobuyou had, through their lawyers – Chinyere.C. Ndoala Esq. (Mrs.) and Mr Owen Nanakumoh Esq. – approached the High Court on behalf of the people of Egrangbene federated communities and their associated towns.

Their prayers included “a declaration that Egrangbene community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State is an autonomous community distinct and separate from all other communities in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, including Oporomor clan/kingdom.”

The claimants commenced the suit against the defendants vide a writ of summons signed by Prof. Osaretin.G. Izevbuwa, filed on 23/5/2022.

Other prayers from the claimants comprised “a declaration that Egrangbene federated community as an autonomous community distinct and separate from Oporomor clan/kingdom with its peculiar traditions and customs is entitled to its king/traditional ruler to act as the custodian and administrator of its distinct customs and tradition.

“An order of perpetual injunction, restraining the defendants jointly and severally from initiating/continuing the process for the nomination, election and installation of a new king for Oporomor kingdom following the demise of HRH Capt Samuel Evah Rtd with the inclusion of the people of Egrangbene community or any of its federated communities.”

But the defendants, Hon. Felix Okpora, J.O. Seiba, Benjamin Oroso (for themselves and on behalf of the Ojobo community), Otiki Bekekeme, Akeme Afido, Appolos Oroso (for themselves and on behalf of Bubu-Ojobo community), Felix Gbadiakumor, Francis Mounzimor, Opena Esamasuode (for themselves and on behalf of Akorugbene community), Yeipegha Onuama, Biri Ebi and Samuel Tamaraumienyefa (for themselves and on behalf of the people of Ndoro community) had joined issues with the claimants with their statements of defence through their counsels, Chief Benjamin Fankoro Yeigagha Esq and Anthony Riasavwe Esq respectively.

The matter eventually went into trial and both parties legally slugged it out, but the trial judge, Hon. Justice Adolor resolved the matter with the judgement that “the claimants are entitled to have their king and in their kingdom distinct from Oporomor clan.”