Ogwashi-Uku: Obi Okonjo Wins 150-Year Kingship Battle

The Obi of Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South LGA Delta State, HRM Obi Ifechukwude Aninsi Okonjo II, has taken ownership of the kingdom’s palace after a 150 years old kingship tussle.

This followed a judicial Certificate of Final Possession issued to the Ogwashi-Uku Royal Family based on the 2007 judgment of the Supreme Court granting the Umu-Obahai Ruling Family of Ogwashi-Uku the ownership rights of the ancient palace.

Obi Ifechukwudi Okonjo (11), who spoke to reporters at the weekend, noted that despite a Supreme Court judgment in 2007, the verdict on the final appeal was given in October 2021.

He said the final possession of the ancient palace brings to an end the 36 years legal tussle between the Umudei family and the Umuoba Obahai family, custodians of the Ogwashi-Uku stool.

Obi Okonjo II said that the police team sought reinforcement after resistance from armed persons prevented the court bailiffs from executing the Warrant of Possession.

He said: “What happened was that on the 7th February, 2022, legal officers from the courts, specifically bailiffs from Asaba, came to Ogwashi-Uku for an execution ordered by the courts. There was a Warrant of Possession for the ancient palace of Ogwashi-Uku.”

He said Umudei family approached the Supreme Court in 2009 and 2010 to contest the decision of the appellate court.

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“They appealed to Supreme Court and the case was held on 1st November, 2021. The Supreme Court, led by Justice Mary Odili, delivered a judgment dismissing their appeal to the Apex Court.”

According to the monarch, the Umudei family was asked to hand over “all the symbols, emblems as well as property belonging to Royal Family, including the old palace,” to the Umuoba-Obahai (Okonjo) family.

“The family was in a legal tussle for 23 years with Umudei, who are our relatives. In 2007, a judgment was given by the late Justice Oseji; and, that judgment gave the rulership of Ogwasi-Uku to Umuoba Obahai Royal Family. Specifically, there was a Warrant of Possession given as far back as 2007.

“We could have executed that warrant at the time. However, the sleeping Obi, the late Prof. Chukwuka Aninsi Okonjo I, felt that it would be premature to do that since the people had a right of appeal. They subsequently went to the Court of Appeal.”

THE NATION