The Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom, Chief Ayirimi Emami, has vowed that he will not be deterred by what he described as deliberate attempts to frustrate his case at High Court 4, Warri, wherein he is challenging his suspension as the “Ologbotsere” (Prime Minister).
This comes just as the court, presided over by Justice
Veronica Agboje, fined the 2nd defendant’s counsel in the case twenty thousand
naira (N20,000) for failing to file processes within the required time.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter, which was
scheduled for pre-trial, to March 16, 2026.
He made the vow shortly after leaving High Court 4 in Warri,
Delta State.
Emami, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress
(APC) in Delta State, had approached the court to challenge his suspension as
Ologbotsere.
According to him, “This case has been lingering for four
years because of delays. They think I will give up. I will never give up.
Justice may be delayed, but it will not be denied.
“Once you tamper with the Ologbotsere institution, you
tamper with Warri Kingdom itself.
“We will equally be in court. It’s a very clear case. I know
that no Itsekiri family or committee has the power under native law and custom
to suspend a chief, especially the Ologbotsere.
“You cannot say you suspend the Ologbotsere, who is supposed
to drive the process. The case is very straightforward; that’s why you see them
jumping, thinking I will give up, because without that, it means there’s no
Itsekiri anymore.”
The case is between Chief Ayirimi Emami vs Chief Akoma Dudu
Dimeyin & ors.
The writ of summons, with suit number W/128/2021, dated July
8, 2021, lists Chief Emami as the claimant, while Chief Akoma Dudu Dimeyin
(Olori-Ebi of Ginuwa Ruling House), Prince Emmanuel Okotie-Eboh (Olori-Ebi of
Ginuwa I Ruling House), and Chief Johnson Amatserunleghe (Iyatsere of Warri)
are the defendants (information extracted from Punch Newspaper Online).
Counsel to Chief Ayirimi Emami, Chief Emmanuel Uti, Esq.,
told newsmen after the court proceedings: “Pre-trial was fixed for today, but
the 2nd defendant’s counsel filed out of time. He served us processes and other
court documents only this morning.
“We have a right to examine what he filed, because it
affects the pre-trial process.”
Chief Uti added, “Our claim is that the family/Ruling House
has no power to suspend the claimant. Also, co-chiefs cannot suspend a
co-chief.
“The Committee does not have the power to suspend, and the
Ginuwa Ruling House also does not have the power to suspend a chief. In fact,
we have evidence from one of the defendants, which we intend to rely on, where
he clearly stated that princes have no authority in relation to a chief. That
person is Prince Mene Brown. We have it on video, and we are going to rely on
it. Princes cannot suspend a chief, and chiefs cannot suspend a co-chief.”
Counsel to the 7th to 10th defendants, Ame Oriakhi, Esq.,
opposed Emami’s claims, arguing that the issue had been overtaken by events.
“The suspension is gone. He was recalled and even offered
another title, which he rejected. The kingdom has moved on,” Oriakhi said.
Spokesman of the Ologbotsere family descendants worldwide,
Mr. Alex Eyengho, who also addressed newsmen at the court premises, stated: “It
has been the style of the defendants to delay processes, which they have done
for four years now.
“Filing one application after another has been their
trajectory, and they played that out today by serving our Ologbotsere’s lawyers
a process this morning at 9:00 a.m. The judge was not happy, and neither were
the other parties involved. They have successfully stalled the pre-trial case
that was scheduled to commence today.”
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