IRDC:Oniyesan leadership gets Interim Order stopping inauguration of Warri Monarch’s 10-man executive

The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli

The last has not been heard of the IRDC crisis, this time the case has taken a twist of its own and some Itsekiri people are calling this event sacrillageous and a taboo.

The leadership crisis rocking Chevron established Itsekiri Regional Development Committee, IRDC has taken a new twist following the Interim Order granted to Ambassador Austin Oniyesan, Itse Orugbo, Prince Moses Fregene for themselves and on behalf of their purported executive of IRDC by the High Court of Justice Delta State of Nigeria in the Sapele Judicial Division holden at Sapele, stopping the inauguration of a new 10-man executive of IRDC believed to have the blessing of the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli.

The claimants/applicants, Ambassador Austin Oniyesan, Itse Orugbo and Prince Moses Fregene in suit No: S/41/16 approached the Court seeking an Interim Order amongst other prayers to restrain the 1st set of defendants from “inaugurating themselves or presenting themselves to any person or authority for the purpose of inauguration or being inaugurated as executive of the Itsekiri Regional Development Committee (IRDC) pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice already filed”.

The first defendants reportedly billed to be sworn-in as new executive of Itsekiri Regional Development Committee, IRDC after scaling through nomination from their communities to the necessary Olu Palace Procedure are “Oti Reece Edukugbo (sic) Edukugo, Florence Oghobi, Christy Otiri, Emmanuel Adun, David Iwere, Kema Peters, Eyide Michaels, Mrs. Odemi Arayi Ademola, Foluwa Keka and Mofe Abiodun Esther”.

The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli had reportedly distanced himself from the inauguration of the Austin Oniyesan led executive inaugurated by the Member Representing Warri North Constituency in Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Michael Diden, popularly known as Ejele.

Fresh Angle International can also report that Chevron Nigeria Limited and the Attorney General of Delta State were equally joined in the suit as 2nd and 3rd set of defendant/respondent.

The Austin Oniyesan leadership also prayed the Court to grant Interim Order stopping Chevron Nigeria Limited and the Attorney General of Delta State from recognizing the Olu of Warri anointed executive, “pending hearing and determination of the motion on notice already filed” in the suit.

Delivering the ruling on Monday April 18, the Presiding Judge, Hon. Justice A.O. Omamogho declared, “having heard the counsel to the Applicants and read through his written address, I am of the view that this is proper case to grant the Applicants this Interim Order to forestall breakdown of law and order which is uppermost in my consideration. Consequently, I herein ordered as prayed. The motion on Notice is herein fixed for 26th of April, 2016 for hearing”.

While tongues are already wagging on why the suit was instituted in a Court sitting at Sapele, a Local Government outside the operational area of itsekiri Regional Development Committee, it could be reported that the Oniyesan leadership had in a petition bearing IRDC Letter Head written The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Delta State, accusing the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli of interfering in IRDC affairs.

The petition which was dated April 11, 2016 and titled, “letter of protest against the unconstitutional and unlawful interference in the affairs of Itsekiri Regional Development Council (IRDC) by His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli, The Olu of Warri”, accused the revered Monarch of “inaugurating his own parallel executive for the council contrary to the provisions of the IRDC constitution”.

Ironically, the petition signed by Ambassador Austin Oniyesan and Prince Moses Fregene copied The Delta State Commissioner of Police and The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli himself, a move considered by many Itsekiris as sacrilege.

Reports say the IRDC Secretariat which had been under lock and key since the Olu of Warri sacked the Austin Oniyesan executive was opened Tuesday April 19 after an electronic mail to that effect was sent to staff and other stakeholders of the IRDC on Monday April 18 by the Austin Oniyesan group.

Culled from Fresh Angle