Enigie vs Oba of Benin: Court bars journalists, as hearing begins afresh Oct. 17

Journalists were barred from covering the case involving the suspended Enigie (Dukes) of Benin Kingdom and the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II when the hearing resumed on Monday at Court Six of the Benin High Court, Edo State.

The case will also start afresh on October 17 with a new judge taking over the case due to a posting within the state judiciary. Justice Peter Akhihiero presided over the case initially but the case would now be heard by M.N Asemota.

The suspended Enigie (Dukes) led by the Duke of Evbuobanosa and Egbaen Siluko dukedoms in Benin kingdom, Prof. Gregory Akenzua and Chief Edomwonyi Ogiegbaen are challenging their suspension from office by the Oba.

At the last hearing on May 9, over 100 priests, priestesses and palace chiefs stormed the High Court chanting curses against the enemies of the Oba.

This led the state government, through its commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, to send a warning to those who might be planning to disrupt Monday’s proceeding, urging them not to intimidate lawyers and judges in the discharge of their duties.

However, the mass gathering and disruption did not take place at the court and the matter was adjourned to October 17 when the case is expected to begin afresh.

One of the lawyers of the defence council, Samson Osagie, said that the posting within the state judiciary led to the transfer of judges from different judicial divisions.

He said, “The case was adjourned to October 17 when it will start afresh because of posting within the Edo State Judiciary leading to transfer of judges from different judicial divisions.

“Today, court six which is handling the matter has indicated that as a new judge, the matter will have to start de novo, what that means is that it has to start afresh. This is so because it was not the judge that was handling it before that is now handling the matter and that is the position of the law.

“Nothing happened today (Monday) in terms of proceedings except that the matter was mentioned again for the first time and the court ruled that the matter has to start afresh on October 17”, he added.