01 April, 2013

COURT UPHOLDS OKONJO AS OBI OF OGWASHI-UKU


The Court of Appeal , Benin Division, has declared the Umu Obi Obahai royal family of Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, the only family qualified to produce the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku.
The court also upheld the appointment of the father of the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Prof Chukuka Okonjo, as the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku.
The court upheld the decision of the High Court of Delta State, Ogwashi-Uku, which sat on the same issue.
Okonjo comes from the Umu Obi Obahai royal line of Ogwashi-Uku.
The Court of Appeal upheld nine of the 10 reliefs sought by the Umu Obi Obahai royal line, including the issue of the family that can produce the Obi.
The judgment endorsed the position of the Obahai family that succession to the throne of the Obi of Ugwashi Uku is hereditary by primogeniture and that the last validly installed Obi of Ugwashi Uku was Obahai.

It also confirms that Dieyi, the forefather of the Dieyi family, which challenged the Obahai position was never an Obi but a mere regent, who held the throne in trust because Obahai’s children were minors at the time of his death.
A statement by Okonjo’s spokesperson Law Okolobi said the council was pleased that the truth has been confirmed and justice carried out.
The statement added that the Obi is convinced that the judgment is a victory for the people of Ogwashi-Uku.
Obi Obahai reigned from 1870 to 1882. Since his demise, the regency prevailed until 22 years ago when his descendants decided to take back the stool.
The defendants contended that the monarchy had changed hands severally and, having been gazetted by the government, the stool should remain with the Dieyi Family.
This prompted the plaintiffs, especially the Okonjos, to go to court.
“His Majesty, the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku, Prof Chukuka Okonjo and the Obi-in-Council, are very pleased that the truth in this matter has been confirmed and justice served.
“It is the Obi’s conviction that the judgment is a victory for the entire people of Ogwashi-Uku,” the statement reads.
Source: The Nation

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