The legitimate Onojie of Ewu as pronounced by the Supreme Court in Suit No. 147/2014 delivered on 19th July 2024, His Royal Highness, Jafaru Isesele 1, has appealed to Edo State Governor, Distinguished Senator Monday Okpebholo to halt attempts by the Edo Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to undermine the above Supreme Court judgement declaring him as the legitimate successor to the throne of Onogie of Ewu and dismissing the appeal of the Appellant, Prince Rasak Yesufu Ogiefo against the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/B/19/2006 for lacking in merit.
In a letter to Governor Okpebholo from the law firm of E. Olayiwola Afolabi SAN on behalf of His Royal Highness, Jafaru Isesele 1, with reference No. EOA/GEN/68/25, dated 13th December, 2025 and titled, “Re: Onogie of Ewu Chieftaincy Dispute: Attempt to Undermine The Supreme Court of Nigeria Delivered in SC. 147/2014 on 19th July, 2024,” the learned Silk pointed out that it has just been brought to their notice that Edo State Government has directed the restoration of payment of the financial benefits due the Ewu throne to Prince Rasak Yesufu Ogiefo who lost out in the three tiers of Courts in the country vide a letter dated the 12th of December, 2025, noting that would be unlawful and an affront on the authority of Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Afolabi also wrote to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and attentioned Pauline Irusota Esq, the Acting Permanent Secretary and signatory to the letter, intimating her of the Supreme Court judgement and enrollment of Order and urging her to withdraw the letter within 48 hours or would be reported to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee.
In Afolabi’s letter to the Governor, which was copied to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and the Edo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, he pointed out that there is already a contempt proceedings against Prince Rasak Yesufu Ogiefo who lost out in the legal tussle for refusal to give up possession of Ewu Palace as ordered by the Supreme Court.
The letter to the Governor states, “We act for His Royal Highness, Jafaru Isesele 1, the legitimate Onogie of Ewu, (hereinafter referred to as “our client”) and on his instructions, we write you this letter in connection with the above-mentioned matter.
“On Friday, the 19th of July, 2024 the Supreme Court of Nigeria sitting at Abuja delivered its well – considered judgment in the above appeal dismissing the appeal of the Appellant, Prince Rasak Yesufu Ogiefo against the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/B/19/2006 as devoid of merit. The Apex Court affirmed the concurrent orders of the High Court of Edo State and the Court of Appeal declaring our client as the legitimate successor to the throne of the Onogie of Ewu and directing the Appellant to surrender possession of the palace of the Onogie of Ewu to our client. For the avoidance of doubt, certified true copies of the enrolled orders/judgments of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Court of Appeal and High Court of Edo State with respect to the above matter are attached herewith and marked as Annexures A1, A2 and A3 respectively.
“Following the above judgment and in obedience to the rule of law, the Government of Edo State led by your predecessor, Mr Godwin N. Obaseki issued a directive that payment of the financial benefits due the throne of the Onogie of Ewu should no longer be made to Prince Rasak Yesufu Ogiefo who had been declared an impostor by the Courts. This has been faithfully implemented since 1st August, 2024.
“It has just been brought to our attention that the Edo State Government, under your leadership has by a letter dated the 12th of December, 2025 directed the restoration of payment of the financial benefits due the Ewu throne to Prince Rasak Yesufu Ogiefo who lost out in the three tiers of Courts in the country. This would be palpably unlawful, illegal and a clear affront on the authority of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
“We want to believe that the aforesaid illegal and unholy attempt to desecrate the subsisting judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on the Onogie of Ewu Chieftaincy question is being done without your knowledge, approval and authority. Please do not allow your government to be scandalized on this Ewu chieftaincy matter. Again, for the avoidance of doubt, we attach herewith a copy of the letter dated 12th December, 2025 written by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to the Chairman, Esan Central Local Government.
“Furthermore, it is noteworthy that there are committal proceedings already pending in the High Court, Benin against Prince Rasak Yesufu Ogiefo for his flagrant and willful disobedience of the aforesaid judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. It would be scandalous and embarrassing if officials of the government are joined as respondents in the above proceedings for being in contempt of subsisting orders of Court.”
While appealing to Governor Okpebholo to implement the Supreme Court judgement under reference, the letter urged the Governor to direct the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to withdraw it’s letter dated 12th December 2025.
“Finally, we want to make it plain that there is a clear duty on every party to litigation to respect and abide by the judgment delivered in the dispute, particularly the final judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. This is the whole essence of Section 287(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, which provides as follows: “287. (1) The decisions of the Supreme Court shall be enforced in any part of the Federation by all authorities and persons, and by courts with subordinate jurisdiction to that of the Supreme Court.”
“Instructively, the Government of Edo State was a party in the above dispute, wherein the Attorney General of Edo State was the 3rd Respondent in the appeal at the Supreme Court.
“In the circumstances, we hereby request you to direct the Ministry of Local Government to withdraw its aforesaid letter dated 12th December, 2025 and to admonish all officials of the Edo State Government and Esan Central Local Government to refrain from taking steps that undermine the authority of the Supreme Court of Nigeria or scandalize the rule of law in Edo State by resuming the payment of the financial benefits due the throne of the Onogie of Ewu to an adjudged impostor.”
In a separate letter to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs dated 13th December 2024 and titled, “Re: Your Contemptuous Treatment of The Supreme Court of Nigeria in SC. 147/2014 Dellivered on 19th July, 2024,” the Permanent Secretary was accused of contempt of the Supreme Court and urged her to withdraw it within 48 hours or risked being taken before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee for disciplinary action.
“In flagrant disobedience of the above judgment, you contemptuously issued a letter on 12th December, 2025 directing the Chairman of Esan Central Local Government to resume payment of the financial benefits due the stool of the Onogie of Ewu to Prince Rasak Yesufu Ogiefo who had been adjudged as a usurper of the throne of the Onogie of Ewu and consequently perpetually restrained from either parading himself as Onogie of Ewu or further laying claim to the throne.
“Premised on the foregoing, we hereby give you FORTY-EIGHT (48) HOURS to withdraw your aforesaid letter, failing which we shall formally lodge a complaint of professional misconduct against you with the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).”