A Port Harcourt High Court in Rivers State presided over by Justice Adolpus Enebeli has declared Eze Felix Amadi as the duly recognised Nyewali and paramount ruler of Ogbogoro community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
With this pronouncement, the 14-year old litigation bordering on the rightful ownership and occupant of the ancient stool of Ogbogoro monarchy has been put to rest.
The court also adjudicated on the land dispute between the families of Owhor Dike of Ehiozu and Rumukpalikwu-Ada all in Ogbogoro community, and held that the five disputed lands situated in different locations within the area, belong to the defendants, the Rumukpalikwu-Ada family.
The court, therefore, in its ruling,made consequential orders perpetually restraining the claimants in the matter,or their privies from entering,trespassing,selling,partitioning or allotting to any person any part of the lands.
It also awarded the sum of N500,000 against the claimants in favour of the defendants.
Enebeli made the declaration while delivering judgement on two consolidated suits brought before the court in 2009 by Ehiozu family as claimants and Rumukpalikwu-Ada family of Ogbogoro community in OBALGA, yesterday in Port Harcourt.
The trial judge affirmed that the two families belonged to the royal family of Ogbogoro community, and always jointly present one Owhor title at Ogbogoro council of chiefs but were distinct and different in their inheritance.
He averred that Rumukpalikwu-Ada family was the most senior among the progenitors of the Ogbogoro royal family, adding that in Ikwerre tradition and customs, they were in the best position to occupy the kingship before their juniors.
Enebeli, therefore, declared Chief Felix Amadias the paramount ruler of Ogbogoro and head of Rumukpalikwu-Ada family, and his co-defendants in the matter as members of the family.
“Thereis no motion from the claimants asking for setting outside the coronation of Chief Felix Amadi in 2005 since the pendency of this matter and there is no other person coroneted as the paramount ruler.So, there will not be vacuum created in the community.I enjoin all of you to follow the part of peace and work with your monarch,the court is not a Father Christmas to give you what you did not bargain for”, he stated.
The judge, however, gave window for those who built on the disputed land before the institution of the matter in court to approach the family for renegotiation, just as he went further to declare that those who bought and developed properties in the disputed land during the pendency of the suit, are at the mercy of Chief Felix Amadiand members of his family.
Meanwhile, Justice AdolphusEnebeli has fixed March 2, 2022, to commence proceedings of contempt of court brought against Collins Ihunda, ClifordAmadiLetten, Maxwell and two others who are members of Ehiozu family over allegations of disobeying the orders of the court during the pendency of the matter.
They are standing trial for allegedly tampering,selling,partitioning and allotting the disputed lands even after the court had made an order restraining all the parties till the determination of the suit before it.
The trial judge warned that no court would be happy when people resort to self-help and disobey its orders.
He warned all the affected persons to ensure that they appear in court on the aforementioned date.
Speaking outside the courtroom, counsel to the defendants in the matter, Joseph Dents, declined comment on the judgement.
However, Emenike Eke, counsel to the defendants, commended the court, and described the judgement as justice for his clients.

By: Akujobi Amadi