Attackers Of Court Bailiffs Remanded In Ogwashi-Uku Palace Assault

Today eight suspects: Walter Okechukwu Ogwashima, Okechukwu Ofuasia, Anthony Obukwugo, Emeka Otulu, Rosaline Ekenife, Franca Ogogo, Ogogo Grace, Chukwudenye Okolie were charged (charge no MO/23/c/2022) at the Ogwashi-Uku Magistrate court and remanded in custody.

They are facing charges ranging from Terrorism, use of improvised explosive devices, permitting the escape of criminals, promoting communal war, weapons charges and other charges stemming from the attack last Monday February 7th 2022 against the court Bailiffs, policemen, and members of the Royal Family who went to the Old Obi’s Palace in Ogwashi-Uku to execute a Warrant of possession issued by the Delta State High Court in Asaba.

Recall that the case stemmed from the dispute as to the rightful owner’s of the Ogwashi-Uku traditional stool which litigation started in 1985.

The Umu Obi Obahai Royal Family won the case in 2007 at the High Court presided over by the Justice Oseji of blessed memory.

The defendants not satisfied with the judgment appealed to the court of appeal in Benin and lost in a unanimous decision.

They then approached the Supreme Court and in a decision led by Justice Mary Odili on November 1st 2021, dismissed their appeal therefore upholding the original judgment by Justice Oseji.

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Throughout the case and despite loosing repeatedly in every single court they went to, the Umu Deiyi Family refused to hand over the Obi’s Palace and other instruments of the traditional title to the Umu Obi Obahai Royal Family.

This led to the Warrant of possession issued by the High Court in Asaba and the execution of the warrant on February 7th 2021.

In an interview given by the Palace Secretary of the Umu Obi Obahai Royal Family, Prince Ifeakanachukwu Emordi narrated what happened on the fateful day.

According to him, five Court Bailiffs along with policemen from Asaba and Ogwashi-Uku came to the gates of the old Palace to enforce the orders of the court.

They were brutally attacked by members of the Umu Deiyi family who barricaded the gates and refused them entry into the Palace to conduct their lawful duty.

The Umu Deyi family members had recruited thugs, cultists and other fierce looking hooligans were fully armed with daggers, guns, cutlasses and also pipe bombs.

They were successful in chasing away the court Bailiffs and policemen who were also stoned as they retreated to the Ogwashi-Uku Divisional Headquarters for their safety.

It took the intervention of the State Commissioner for Police who sent reinforcements an hour later to rescue the situation and permit the court Bailiffs to carry out their lawful duty.

He further stated that the Hoodlums damaged several cars as the criminals they boasted of their actions on videos and pictures shown on social media by a key financier based in Lagos.

The Palace Secretary said that the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku will not interfere with the prosecution of the culprits and emphasied that the investigation by the Police is still ongoing so that the sponsors of the criminals can also be brought to justice.

He commended the state Commissioner for Police CP Muhammad Ali, the Deputy Commissioner Operations and also the OC Legal for their commitment to ensuring that the lawful court order was carried out.

The situation appears to be calm and the Old Palace deserted in preparation for the massive renovation of the old run down Palace.

Sand and other building materials appear to be appearing at the old Palace site. In a meeting held with the Umudei Royal Family of whom the Umu Obi Obahai belong to, the Diokpa of the entire Umudei Royal Family commended the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku for his efforts in restoring peace to the community.

He charged the Obi to use this new beginning as an opportunity to reconcile all members of the family while he condemned the actions of the Umu Deyi who had instigated the violence against the court officials.

Members of the Ogwashi-Uku community appear to be cautiously optimistic about the future of the Ogwashi-Uku community. One of the senior members of the community who we spoke with traced many of the community problems to people outside the royal family who were sponsoring the chaos and divisions within the community.

These people he claimed were using the Old Palace as their focal reference point especially during yearly Ineh Festivals and dividing the community. He prayed for peace to return to the Kingdom.