Delta Govt is statute barred from having dealings with you -Ogiren replies embattled King, HRM Oweiagbe
• Your reply to my publication is childish, display of crass ignorance of the law -Ogiren
• Threatens contempt charges on Delta govt, HRM Oweiagbe
By Stella Ochuko, Warri
A frontline aspirant in the kingship tussle of Operemor Kingdom in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, Mr Newstyle Ogiren has insisted that the Delta State government, having being the first respondent of the restraining order, had been statute barred from having dealings with the embattled king, HRM Ekiomi Oweiagbe of the Operemor Kingdom, noting that the reply to his (Ogiren) publication on popular Congress Newspaper was childish and a display of crass ignorance of the law.
Reacting to a counter statement by HRM Oweiagbe denying that he was never restrained by any court of his traditional functions, Ogiren threatened to press contempt charges on Delta State government and the embattled king.
Consequently, the restraining order cited by our correspondent showed that the Delta State government was the first respondent of the suit and could not have exonerate itself from the order.
The suit marked No. UNC/94/2023 between MR.NEWSTYLE EGIRENWAREKAEMI,( APPLICANT)
AND DCN BARR KINGSLEY OTUARO (His Excellency, Deputy Gov Of Delta State, on behalf of Delta government), (1st respondent), HON GODKNOWS ANGELE (Chairman, Burutu Local Government Council, Burutu), (2nd respondent), HRM (DR) OWEIAGBE JOHN EKIOEMI, (3rd respondent), CHIEF BARE ETOLOR (4th respondent), CHIEF TUDUO GABRIEL, (5th respondent), CHIEF ONDOKARE S.L FUREYIN, (6th respondent)
(For themselves and on behalf of the Traditional Council Of Operemor Kingdom, indicated that the king was restrained of financial benefits and exercise of traditional functions with 1" 2" 4" 5" 6" 7" & 8" respondents.
The high court order of Interim injunction dated 8th May, 2023 restrained the 1" 2" 4" 5" 6" 7" & 8" respondents from having dealings with the 3 respondents about payments of Allowances, Royalties etc either through his agents, privies, servants etc pending the determination of the motion on notice.
The leading contender of Operemor Kingship tussle, Mr Ogiren said going by the above order, Delta State government and Burutu Local government had contravened the judicial order for appointing the embattled king into the Burutu LGA subsidy palliative committee.
He insisted that the king should be removed from the subsidy palliative committee in Burutu Local Government Area, adding that failure to do so by the Delta State government would attract contempt charges.
Ogiren said the response by the king in an online publication was done in a bad fate and was meant to mislead the public of good conscience.
However, the king HRM, Oweiagbe admitted in his response that he was only restrained of his financial benefits, loyalties and allowances, pending the determination of the suit in question, arguing that the order had nothing to do with his traditional functions.
The statement reads, "Court will only restrain someone when it discovered that your identity is in doubt. The implied meaning of stopping your financial benefits is because you are not recognised by the court as genuine king. Delta State government and other relevant authorities were asked to stop recognising you by the restraining order because you are yet to prove to the court that you are a king. So what the Delta State government and Burutu Local Government are doing is a complete contravention of the court ruling. It is inimical and the law frowns at it. We are disappointed at the state contemptuous attitude, however we will meet in the court."
