Court Dismisses Suit Against Olu of Warri, Affirms Ogiame Atuwatse III’s Throne
Court Dismisses Suit Against Olu of Warri, Affirms Ogiame Atuwatse III’s Throne
A Delta State High Court sitting in Asaba has dismissed the suit filed by Prince Oyowoli Emiko challenging the ascension of Ogiame Atuwatse III as the Olu of Warri. In suit number A/119/2023, the court ruled that the claims were statute-barred and dismissed the case in its entirety.
Presiding over the case, Justice Obriki Okolusi held that the withdrawal of a previous suit, W/104/21, was not intended for a peaceful resolution but was instead a strategic move to create an opportunity for a fresh legal challenge. The court also ruled that the relief claims in the present suit were premature, stating that the grievances should have been presented within the 21-day period stipulated under Section 19 of the Traditional Rulers Council Chieftaincy Laws.
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Furthermore, the court determined that by withdrawing the previous suit and filing a new one, the case had become an academic exercise. It also noted that the letters of recommendation by the Executive Council were issued after the suit was filed, meaning that at the time of submission, those letters had not yet been written.
With this ruling, the legal battle over the throne of Warri has reached another turning point, reinforcing Ogiame Atuwatse III’s legitimacy as the Olu of Warri.
