Ruling house tasks Delta gov over royal tussle

A group of claimants challenging the process leading to the emergence of Engineer Michael Orugbo as the Ovie of Udu has appealed to Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, to suspend the planned presentation of a staff of office to him, pending the determination of their case before the state High Court.

Speaking during a press conference held on behalf of Chief Wisdom Ghaghara (JP) and others on Monday, the claimants alleged that the state government’s decision to proceed with the coronation despite a pending suit constitutes “a disregard for the rule of law and the authority of the judiciary.”

The claimants, who filed Suit No. OUHC/133/2025 at the Otor-Udu High Court, are seeking a judicial interpretation of the Udu Chieftaincy Law regulating succession to the Ovie of Udu stool. 

The suit questions whether due process was followed by the relevant ruling house and chieftaincy authorities in selecting the candidate for the royal title.

According to the group, the law prescribes a 60-day timeframe for the selection process by the Okporua Ruling House, but the exercise, which produced Engineer Orugbo, was reportedly concluded within 30 days.

“We are not opposed to lawful succession,” the claimants said, “but it must be done within the confines of the law. Proceeding with the coronation while the matter is before the court is prejudicial and undermines judicial integrity.”

While only the 6th defendant, Engineer Orugbo, has entered an appearance and filed a preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction, the claimants lamented that the Delta State Executive Council, at its meeting of 9 October 2025, ratified the disputed selection despite being aware of the ongoing litigation.

They further disclosed that the state government has fixed 7 November 2025 for the coronation and presentation of the staff of office to Engineer Orugbo by the governor — a move the claimants described as “ill-advised and capable of eroding public confidence in the rule of law.”

“There is still time for the Governor to do the right thing by postponing the ceremony indefinitely until the court delivers its judgment,” they stated.

“When a matter is before a court, it is the duty of all parties, including government, to respect the process and allow the law to take its full course.”

The claimants revealed that they had also written to the Attorney-General of Delta State, urging him to advise the governor to desist from any action that could pre-empt the court’s decision.

However, counsel to the monarch-elect, Mr Oghenejabor Ikimi, Esq., in a telephone interview, dismissed reports suggesting that the court had issued any restraining order.

“There is no court order stopping the state government or my client from proceeding with the coronation,” Ikimi said. “The matter was merely adjourned to 18 December 2025 to give all parties fair hearing. The court has not made any pronouncement halting the process.”

Ikimi explained that at the last sitting on 16 October 2025, the claimants served his team with a motion seeking to restrain the government on the same day the matter came up for hearing, which, according to him, was procedurally improper.

“I told the court that it would be unfair to hear the motion without giving us time to react,” he said. “The court agreed and adjourned the case. They also asked the court to order parties to maintain the status quo, but I opposed it because there was no legal basis for such an order.”

He added that his team had since filed a counter-affidavit and was prepared to defend its position when the case resumes.

“As we speak, there is no tension in Udu,” Ikimi maintained. “I am an Udu man myself, and everything is calm. God willing, my client will be crowned and given his staff of office on the 7th of November. There is no cause for alarm.”

The lawyer further clarified that even if the coronation holds before the conclusion of the case, it would not invalidate the court’s eventual decision.

“Even if the man has been crowned, that does not stop the case. If, at the end, the court rules otherwise, another person can be sworn in. But for now, my client remains the monarch-elect, and the law has not stopped his coronation,” he stated.

The case, Chief Wisdom Ghaghara & Ors v. Udu Council of Chiefs & Ors, has been adjourned to 18 December 2025 for the adoption of written addresses by the parties’ counsel.

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