Deposed ruler drags Oshiomhole, others to court, demands N1bn

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NIGERIA: THE former traditional ruler of Uromi in Edo State, the Ojuromi of Uromi, Anselm Eidenojie II, who was suspended and later deposed by the Edo State government, has headed to court to quash the decision and he has demanded N1 billion compensation.

Eidenojie said that the compensation is for damages against the respondents jointly and severally and as reparation for the alleged assault, torture, arrest, detention and harassment against him in the course of their alleged unlawful acts.

The ex-royal father sued the former Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, and 11 others over his suspension for one year.

The deposed traditional ruler of the town of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Chief Tony Anenih, was suspended for allegedly assaulting a woman, Ms. Betty Okoeber, last September 8, his disregard for constituted authority by failing to answer query issued to him within the stipulated period and travelling outside the country without permission from the government.

The government had in a letter dated November 4, 2016, and signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, stripped Eidenojie of all the privileges and rights of the Ojuromi of Uromi.

The government said that its decision was in line with Section 28(1) of the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Law (1979), adding that the monarch’s salary for the period would be appropriated and donated to orphanages.

Eidenojie, however, urged the court to declare that his suspension amounted to recklessness and abuse of office, was unconstitutional, unlawful, actionable and without a just cause.

Other respondents in the suit filed through his counsel, Benjamin Iruobe, are the state Commissioner of Police, Assistant Inspector-General of Police (Zone 5), the Inspector-General of Police, the Nigeria Police Force, Betty Okoebor and one Matthew Okoebor.

The ex-traditional ruler said that he decided to sue in pursuance to Order 2 and 4 of the Fundamental Rights Procedure Rules, 2009, under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

The plaintiff urged the court for the enforcement of his fundamental rights under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in terms of the relief sought in the statement in support of his application.

The plaintiff requested the court to grant an injunction restraining the defendants by themselves, agents, servants and or privies or such other persons from oppressing him or imposing any inhibition or restrictions on his freedom of movement or his agents and family, in respect of the complaint.

It would be recalled that the monarch was earlier suspended for seven days and directed to apologise for disobeying the government over query to explain why he allegedly assaulting a woman.

Following the failure to reply within the stipulated period, the ex-traditional ruler was suspended for one year with effect from Monday, November 7.

“The Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole is in receipt of your letter of 28th October, 2016 on the above subject matter,” the government said, adding: “Mr. Governor observed that your activities since you were initially suspended from office as Ojuromi of Uromi have raised issues that require further determination.  It is important, for record purposes, to recount what has led to the present situation.”

It added: “Discounting your previous conduct, on the 28th of September 2016, you left your Palace during voting and moved from polling booth to polling booth campaigning and trying to coerce voters to vote for your preferred party and candidate.

“You went to a polling booth which was not where you registered to vote and tried to compel others to vote for your preferred candidate when one of the voters, Ms. Betty Okoebor refused to yield to your threats. You assaulted her causing grievous bodily harm.”

“Following from this, the Government, viewing your conduct as utterly embarrassing, disgraceful and unbecoming of a traditional ruler, issued you with a query and directed that you reply within 72 hours,” the government also said, adding: “You ignored the query, travelled not just out of your domain but outside the country without permission.”

It further said: “The flagrant arrogance of power and disregard for constituted authority compelled the State Executive Council in Session to suspend you from office as Ojuromi of Uromi for seven days in exercise of its legal powers.

“You were directed not to parade yourself as Ojuromi, carry out any activity as Ojuromi, to apologise to Ms. Okoebor and also to the Edo State Government.

“It is instructive to note that in your “Letter of Apology” of 28th October, 2016, you trivialised the gravity of your misconduct by describing what took place in public glare on the 28th of September where you were the assailant as an ‘altercation’ and ‘family’ affair.

“Your public assault and disgrace of a citizen of the Federal Republic, in your estimation, was a non-issue.”

The government also said “To ridicule the Edo State Government and deride the directive that you apologise to Ms. Okoebor, you proceeded to organise a ‘forgiveness Session’ in your Palace in your capacity as Ojuromi, wearing a crown even when you were still suspended from office, purporting to be ‘forgiving’ Ms. Okoebor.

“At the said ‘forgiveness session,’ you compelled the victim of your assault to apologise to you for the assault against her person while on her knees and made to remain in same position while being interviewed by journalists.

“You had the embarrassing session videoed and aired repeatedly on television subjecting Ms. Okoebor to double jeopardy and double disgrace by expanding the frontiers of her embarrassment to a global level through the electronic and social media.”

“This represents nothing short of a deliberate effort to further aggravate the pain and humiliation of your victim,” government further explained, adding: “You claimed in your letter that Ms. Okoebor had ‘reconciled herself to the Throne’ which conveys the impression that you still represented the Throne from which you had been suspended and further stated that she is your ‘subject’ and you had ‘forgiven’ her.”

It added: “This was in gross violation of the terms of your suspension from office as provided for in extant laws. The Government of Edo State does not accept that there are ‘subjects’ in Nigeria but citizens of the Federal Republic.

“You will recall that the assault on Ms. Okoebor which was incidented at the Uromi Police Station on September 28, 2016, remains under investigation by the Police as a criminal act.

“This act, which in itself negates expectations from the exalted office of a traditional ruler, cannot be tolerated by the government in a constitutional democracy.”

“Government has also received official security reports as to your high handedness in addressing relations with operators of the cattle market in Uromi to wit: unilaterally dissolving their association; appointing your preferred person to head the association, banishing their elected leader from Uromi, illegally taking over the cattle market and stalls that they built themselves, banning about eight butchers from doing business in the Uromi market and assigning the responsibility for collecting revenue for the Local Government Council to your own preferred person even without authority from the Council,” it stated.

It also stressed: “You equally laid claim to ownership of the land, which was legally allocated to the cattle marketers in the year 2000, among other infractions.

“These are not the actions of a law abiding traditional ruler who believes in promoting peace, unity and development in Uromi communities.  The Government of Edo State has high regards for traditional institutions and for the values and customs of our people.

“However, the Government, shall, under no condition, tolerate indiscipline, reckless abuse of traditional privileges, disrespect for its pronouncements, and flagrant humiliation of law-abiding citizens of the State.

“In view of the facts established above, taking cognizance of your letter of apology that falls short of the public apology expected from you within the stipulated time, and the earlier suspension letter which had specified dethronement after seven days; in exercise of its powers, the Government of Edo State hereby commutes your dethronement to a one-year suspension from office as Ojuromi of Uromi in accordance with Section 28(1) of the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Law (1979) with effect from the 7th of November, 2016.”

The government also said: “During this period of suspension under extant laws, you are hereby stripped of all the privileges and rights of the Ojuromi of Uromi and barred from performing any duties whatsoever in that regard.

“By virtue of this suspension from office, your remuneration from the 5 percent monthly FAC allocation to the Local Government shall be appropriated and donated to orphanages during this period.”

Following his recalcitrant posture, the government deposed the former traditional ruler and stripped him of all his rights to the throne. (November 13, 2016)