Court stops Kogi govt from unseating traditional ruler

A Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja, on Wednesday, granted
an Order of Interim Injunction restraining the State Government
from terminating the appointment of Chief James Akor as Aidokanya
of Odari in Olamaboro Local Government.

The court also restrained the government from condoning or
acting on the purported indefinite suspension of Akor, pending the
hearing and determination of the substantive Motion on Notice on
the issue.

Granting the order on Wednesday, Justice Henry Olusiyi of High
Court II, Lokoja, said the suit was brought pursuant to Orders 11
Rules I and II of the High Court of Kogi State (Civil Procedure)
Rules and the inherent jurisdiction of the Honourable Court.

The suit has Emmanuel Salifu, Attorney General of Kogi; HRM (Dr)
Idakwo Oboni II, (Attah of Igala); Igala Area Traditional Council,
Olamaboro Local Government Traditional Council as defendants.

Akor had approached the court, challenging his purported
suspension as Aidoka-Anya of Odari and appointment of Salifu (first
defendant) as his replacement by the state government (second
defendant).

He also challenged the invasion of his palace at Ogbofe,
Emonoja, Ogugu and his personal house in Ate-Okegbi, Ogugu as well
as the seizure of his official vehicle by the police on the
instruction of the second defendant.

His counsel, Realwan Okpanachi, therefore, filed an application
before the court seeking orders of the court to restrain the second
defendants from enforcing the purported indefinite suspension and
replacement of the traditional ruler by the 1st defendant
(Salifu).

He also sought an Order restraining the 1st Defendant from
parading or further parading himself or presenting himself or
allowing himself to be presented as the Aidokanya of Odari pending
the hearing and determination of the pending motion on notice.

Okpanachi as well sought among others, an order of the court
restraining the second to sixth defendants, their servants, agents,
workers or privies including men of Nigeria Police from further
harassment and intimidation of the Claimant/Applicant and/or
invading his palace or personal house.

In an affidavit in support of the application, deposed to by the
claimant/applicant, Akor said the suspension by the 4th Defendant
was a “grand design” for the termination of his appointment as
Aidokanya of Odari by the 2nd Defendant.

Akor noted that his trauma was orchestrated by the 2nd defendant
to coerce him into withdrawing his pending suit No. HLC/562/18
challenging the appointment of Chief Simeon Sani Ujah as Eje of
Olamaboro instead of him as the rightful candidate.

In his ruling, Olusiyi said that the grounds for the application
bordered on the validity of the purported indefinite suspension of
the claimant as Aidokanya of Odari and purported appointment of the
1st Defendant in his place by the 4th Defendant.

It also bordered on the invasion of the claimant’s palace and
personal house by armed men of Nigeria Police force on the
instruction of the second defendant.

Olusiyi, therefore, granted the application and issued the
orders sought by the claimant, pending the determination of the
substantive suit.

(NAN)

Related