By Lucky Isibor
The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Monday, 16 March reaffirmed its earlier judgement delivered on July 19, 2024, in Suit No. SC 147/2014, dethroning Prince Rasak Ogiefo as Onojie of Ewu, stating that His Royal Highness Jafaru Isesele I is the rightful Onojie of Ewu as the eldest surviving son of the late Onojie of Ewu, His Royal Highness Isesele Ogiefo II at the time of his death in 1998.
The Supreme Court also slamed a cost of ₦10 million on the senior counsel representing the Ewu Kingmakers in the fresh appeal at the apex court, Professor Ambrose Ekpu, for daring to file the latest application praying the court to reverse its earlir judgement, describing the application as “a gross abuse of court process.”
The Supreme Court gave the order while striking out the applications for substitution of three deceased kingmakers and the setting aside of its judgement delivered on the 19th of July, 2024 filed by Prof Ekpu in favour of Prince Jafaru Isesele Ogiefo, the rightful Onojie of Ewu kingdom.
The ruling, delivered last Monday afternoon, re-echoes the court’s firm stance on the finality of its judgments and the need to prevent unnecessary litigation after matters have been conclusively settled by the Supreme Court.
Kingsley Obamogie SAN, Olayiwola Afolabi SAN, Sunny Agwinede (Esq.), and others led the legal team that opposed the application on behalf of the rightful Onojie of Ewu, H.R.H Jafaru Isesele I
Under the new Supreme Court rules, the court ordered that Prof. Ekpu must pay the ₦10 million within ninety days.
The development is the latest chapter in the long-running legal battle over the Onojie of Ewu Kingdom stool in Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State.
It will be recalled that the Supreme Court on July 19, 2024, in a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, dethroned Prince Rasak Yesufu Ogiefo as the of Ewu and declared Jafaru Isesele as the rightful Onojie of Ewu Kingdom. The apex Court also slamed a perpetual injection on Prince Rasak Ogiefo, restraining him from ever laying claim to the stool of Onojie of Ewu Kingdom.
In its judgment, the apex court ruled that Prince Rasak Yesufu Ogiefo was not entitled to inherit the throne under the traditional line of succession in accordance with Esan Native Laws and Customs which operates on succession by primogeniture.
The court held that his claim failed because his father, Prince Yesufu Isesele Ogiefo, died before his own father, His Royal Highness Isesele Ogiefo II, the late Onojie of Ewu.
Based on the traditional inheritance structure governing the royal lineage, the court determined that Jafaru Isesele—being the eldest surviving son of the late Onojie—was the legitimate successor to the throne.