By Lucky Isibor
The Edo State Solicitor General, Iseghohimen Stephen Okoror, has assured that the Edo State Government led by Distinguished Senator Monday Okpebholo will abide by and implement the Supreme Court judgement on the Ewu chieftaincy dispute which had in its judgment of 19 July, 2024 declared His Royal Highness Jafaru Isesele I the rightful Onojie of Ewu Kingdom in Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State, while also dethroning Prince Rasak Ogiefo as the Onojie.
The Solicitor General made the position of government known in an interview with journalists at the Supreme Court on Monday, 16 March after the apex Court dismissed the application filed by Professor Ambrose Ekpu on behalf of Ewu Kingmakers, seeking to substitute the kingmakers who died after the Supreme Court’s well considered judgement on the matter in Suit. No. SC/147/2014 and to set aside the judgment under reference.
Dismissing the application, with a cost of ten million Naira to be paid by the Counsel to Ewu Kingmakers, Prof. Ekpu, the Supreme Court reaffirmed the finality of its judegents, describing the application as a gross abuse of court process.
The Solicitor General pointed out that the state government did not file any papers in the application before the Court, but assured the apex court of its willingness to abide by any decision it reaches on the matter.
“We didn’t file any papers, we just told the court we are going to abide by the decision of the court. Our Governor, Most Distinguished Senator Monday Okpebholo is someone who abides by court decisions and will never disobey court rulings. Whatever the court says, he will abide by it,” he assured.
Speaking with newsmen after the latest Supreme Court judgement, senior counsel to His Royal Highness Jafaru Isesele I, Kingsley Obamogie SAN noted that the application was found to be abusive of court process and was struck out.
“The application filed by Ewu Kingmakers was considered and was found to be utterly abusive of the process of the court. Consequently, the application was withdrawn by Counsel and struck out by the court with the sum of ten million Naira awarded as cost against the Counsel. The cost was awarded against the Counsel because the clients on behalf of whom he filed the application have long died and the application itself was found to be utterly abusive of the process of court.”
Also speaking, another counsel to HRH Isesele I, Olayiwola Afolabi SAN urged all and sundry, particularly those who may want to approach the Supreme Court with frivolous applications to learn from the Ewu Chieftaincy dispute as the axe will fall on them.
“The lesson learnt today is that the Supreme Court has declared in clear terms that you don’t come to the Supreme Court with frivolous applications. And the lawyer to the Kingmakers, a professor of law, the sum of ten million Naira has been awarded against him and that money must be paid within thirty days, otherwise he can’t appear in any court in Nigeria.”
This Supreme Court ruling is the latest chapter in the long-running legal battle over the stool of the Onojie of Ewu Kingdom 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 Onojie 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. He was also perpetually restrained from parading himself or allowing himself to be so paraded as the 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 the principle of 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 who died on 6th August, 1997.
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.