Justice Peter Akhihiero, of the Edo State High Court sitting in Benin has granted the prayer of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, to include the Benin Traditional Council as a defendant in a suit between him and the suspended Enigie (Dukes) in the Benin kingdom.
DAILY POST reports that the judge granted the Benin monarch’s prayer at the resumed hearing of the suit on Thursday.
The suspended Enigie that took the Oba of Benin to court are Professor Gregory Akenzua, Enigie of Evbuobanosa, Chief Edomwonyi Ogiegbaen, Egbaen Siluko Dukedoms in Benin Kingdom, on behalf of others.
The suspended Enigies are challenging their suspension by the Oba of Benin at the Edo State High court.
In the suit, the plaintiffs argued that only the state governor can remove them from their positions.
In his ruling, Justice Peter Akhihiero granted the Oba of Benin’s prayer to include the Benin Traditional Council as the 3rd defendant in the suit marked, B/250os/2023, while Oba Ewuare II and Edo State Government, are the 1st and 2nd defendants, respectively.
Akhihiero, however, urged the defendants’ counsel not worry about the timing, insisting that “The race is not for the swift, or the battle for the strong”.
“If they were bringing in the Traditional Council as necessary, I don’t see this as a problem since you people have brought the Oba to court.
“I don’t think I can shut down any party. Let them come in and file their processes,” he added.
He, however, adjourned the case to July 15, 2024.
Credit Gist New Today News in Newspaper Nigeria Headlines