Tussle for Olu of Warri Stool: Thugs invade court, Judge, Lawyers run for their lives

 

The tussle for the Olu of Warri stool on Thursday moved to the High Court 4 in Warri, Delta State as mobs reportedly invaded the court, forcing the court to adjourn the case abruptly for fear of being attacked by the ravaging thugs.

Advocate.ng gather that one of the parties to the disputed stool had gone to court to challenge the process leading to the selection of Olu designate, the case was slated for mentioning today, but the environment became charged thereby forcing the judge and senior lawyers into adjourning case.

Recall that the selection and unveiling of Prince Tsola Emiko, as the Olu of Warri designate, has polarized the once peaceful Warri kingdom, and peace moves by critical stakeholders have not yielded the desired result with just a few weeks to his coronation.

According to BIGPENNGR reports, the presiding judge, Hon Justice V O Agboje was said to have narrowly escaped being lynched by the invaders who were chanting war song in protest of the lawsuit brought by Mr. Bernard Emiko, younger brother to the immediate past Olu of Warri, His Royal Majesty Ogiame Ikenwoli.

It was gathered that Bernard Emiko had on Wednesday, June 16, 2021, approached the High Court via a 17-page affidavit filed on his behalf by Chief Efe Akpofure (SAN), seeking nullification of the nomination and enthronement of Prince Utieyinorisetsola Emiko as the Olu-designate and eventual installation as the 21st monarch of the ancient kingdom.

Bernard Emiko is asking the court, among other prayers, to set aside and nullify the purported nomination and transmission of Prince Tsola Emiko to Chief Ayiri Emami (the Ologbotere of Warri) as the selection of Omoba (Olu-designate) by Prince Emmanuel Okotie-Eboh on February 18, 2021, is ultra vires.

An eyewitness said that while the case was ongoing, Chief Johnson Atseleghe (Iyatsere of Warri Kingdom) led a large number of followers into the court premises, thus forcing the court into an abrupt end in the ensuing commotion and chaos.

Sources said that the judge and Akpofure alongside other lawyers could have been lynched by the mob who trooped into the courtroom thereafter.

It was learnt the judge allegedly escaped through the back door while Akpofure and other senior lawyers reportedly fled the scene when the atmosphere became tensed and chaotic.

 

Details later…