Court Dismisses Suit Challenging Appointment Of Oma Eyewuoma As Ologbotsere Of Warri Kingdom

In a ruling delivered on Monday, Justice V.O. Agboje held that the case was not properly brought before the court, leading to its dismissal.

Chief Eyewuoma was appointed as Ologbotsere in 2023, following a decision by the Olu of Warri to strip Chief Ayiri Emami of the title.

Dissatisfied with the development, some members of the Ologbotsere descendants, alongside Ayiri Emami, filed a suit seeking a declaration that Eyewuoma’s appointment was null and void.

Reliefs Sought by the Plaintiffs Included:

Speaking to journalists after the ruling, Mr. Amiandamen Oriakhi, counsel to Chief Oma Eyewuoma, said the court’s decision confirmed that there is no longer any valid legal challenge to his client’s appointment.

“Some members of the Ologbotsere descendants and Chief Ayiri filed the suit, arguing that no one could be appointed Ologbotsere during Ayiri’s lifetime,” Oriakhi explained.

He said the defence team countered by arguing that chieftaincy titles are the sole prerogative of the monarch, who has the power to appoint whomever he deems fit.

“We also filed a preliminary objection, stating that the case was not properly brought before the court. By law, in a chieftaincy matter, an aggrieved party must first petition the government before approaching the court,” he added.

Oriakhi emphasized that the plaintiffs failed to exhaust the statutory domestic remedies before initiating court proceedings.

“Today, the court ruled that the case was not properly filed and therefore dismissed it. As it stands, there is no suit in court challenging Chief Eyewuoma’s position as Ologbotsere,” he concluded.