Ogbe-Ijoh has no claim in Warri South, INYC replies IYC

The Itsekiri National Youths Council, INYC, has responded to a publication by the “Ogbe-Ijoh/Warri Kingdom IYC (Ijaw Youth Council)” over claim on Warri ownership, saying, “Ogbe-Ijoh has no claim in Warri South!”

The INYC, in a statement Sunday April 21, declared: “Every empirical material, bears testament to Ogbe-Ijoh being in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State of Nigeria and not in Warri South Local Government Area.”

The statement, which was authored by the Secretary and Public Relations Officer, PRO, of Itsekiri National Youths Council, Warri South Chapter, Comr. Ajemijeroma Gabriel Mene-Ejegi and Comr. Amejuma Adidi, respectively, vowed: “We shall continue to defend our territorial integrity against aggressors and will never relent.”

The Itsekiri Youth body, posited: “The attention of the Itsekiri National Youths Council (INYC), Warri South Local Government Chapter has been drawn to a reply by the Ogbe-Ijoh/Warri Kingdom IYC to the Itsekiri ownership of Warri, especially as against the Ijaw people of any description. The said reply was published online as https://liberatorng.com/2024/04/19/ogbe-ijoh-warri-kingdom-iyc-replies-itsekiri-over-claim-on-warri-ownership/. We elect to presently respond to the extant publication on this occasion.   

1.     It is baffling that the publication was made under the name; “…Ogbe-Ijoh/Warri Kingdom” when every empirical material bears testament to Ogbe-Ijoh being in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State of Nigeria and not in Warri South Local Government Area.

2.     It is worthy of note that beside empirical materials, the law has also settled this issue on several occasions including:

a.      The decision of the High Court of Justice in Suit No: W/277/2012: Chief E.F. Esisi & 10 Ors vs. The Governor of Delta State & 5 Ors where the Honourable Court referred extensively to the decision of R.W. Rhodes-Vivour J. sitting in Warri High Court in Suit No. W/148/56 before the Warri High Court between Chief Izoukumo Olioki & 5 Ors (for themselves and on behalf of the Ogbe-Ijoh people) Vs Itsekiri Communal Land Trustees and Chief Sam Warri Esi (for himself and on behalf of Agbassa and the Igbudu People) over the declaration of title to land in Warri including the areas now being claimed by the people of Ogbe-Ijoh of Warri; the relevant portion being as follows:

“On the 9/7/64, this court delivered its Ruling refusing the plaintiffs application to discontinue after the trial date had been fixed to the knowledge of the parties... The Plaintiffs are hereby precluded from bringing any further actions action against any or either of the 1^st and 2^nd Defendants in respect of the claims of which specific particulars were given in the Writ of Summons”

“The action then instituted on the same subject matter with the extant one, by the people of Ijaw was struck out and in following this line of decision, the Honourable Court struck out the action again.

b.     Again, with the support of top Ijaw Leaders, the Ama Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh had conceived a plan to launch into Warri South Local Government Area with a view to establishing an Ijaw Kingdom called Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom of Warri South. They instituted the suit initially against only the Local Government Council and the State but the Isekiri people raised an objection the suit was struck out prior to 2020.

c.      Sequel to the above development, the Ijaws instituted W/147/2020 Between: W/147/2020 HRM Amaokosu Mobene Vs. The Executive Governor Delta State & 5 Ors by which the  Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh claimed to be entitled to royalties in Warri South Local Government Area after 4 years of intense legal tussle, the suit was struck out for being incompetent and lacking in merit.

d.     The suit was secretly instituted in Asaba as opposed to Warri and they began pursuing it secretly almost securing judgment when the Itsekiris discovered and joined; the matter was then transferred back to Warri in 2022. Judgment was eventually delivered on the 26^th day of March, 2024 in favour of the Itsekiris.

“From the above it is very apparent that the propensity of the Ogbe-Ijoh people to make entrance into Warri South knows no bounds. They started in 1964 and have continue even till 2024 and on each occasion failed and will continue to fail.

“We shall continue to defend our territorial integrity against aggressors and will never relent. Ogbe-Ijoh has no claim in Warri South!”

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