A State High Court in Lokoja on Monday sacked the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Alhaji Tijani Ahmed-Anaje.
Ahmed-Anaje was ordered not to portray himself as the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland in a judgment that Justice Umar Salisu delivered in Lokoja.
Former governor Yahaya Bello’s appointment of Ahmed-Anaje by Chief Daudu Adeku-Ojiah, Hussain Yusuf, and Abdulrahaam Suberu had a complaint in December.
Represented by Mr Lawal Rabana (SAN), the plaintiffs sued Governor Ahmed Ododo, the State Attorney General, Muzi Abdullahi and the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland. Ahmad-Anaje as the first, second, and third defendants in the case, which started in Okene before moving to Lokoja.
The three plaintiffs had asked the court to declare that the procedure for appointing the third defendant to the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland was unlawful and erroneous.
Additionally, they argued that the procedure was incompatible with the 1997 Edict No 3 directing the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland’s appointment.
They also sought a DECLARATION that the purported recommendation of the 3rd Defendant by unknown kingmakers to the 1st Defendant as the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland was contrary to the clear provisions of Section 4 (1) Chieis (Appoininient, Deposition and Establishment of Traditional Councils in Kogi State) Law, 2006 and, therefore, null, void and of no effect whatsoever.
“A DECLARATION that the purported Ohi’s who participated in the selection, recommendation, and the procedure leading to the purported appointment of the third defendant as Ohinoyi of Ebiraland are null and void.”
They sought an order of Perpetual Injunction restraining the 1st and 2nd Defendant, by himself, agents, servants, privies or howsoever called from recognising, dealing with or according to any rights or privileges to the 3rd Defendant as Ohinoyi of Ebiraland.
Gov. Ahmed Ododo, Abdullahi and Ahmed-Anaje, had objected to the claims of the plaintiff, through their Counsels, Muzi Abdullahi and Zakari Abbas, and had asked the court to dismiss the case for lack of merit.
Justice Salisu, in his opinion, ordered Ahmed-Anaje to retake the throne of Ohinoyi in Ebiraland pending a new selection by the kingmakers of the Ebiraland and upheld the claimants’ requests.
In Kogi state, more than 70 candidates vying for Ohinoyi’s stool.
A committee chose them to replace the late Alhaji Ado Ibrahim, who passed away on October 29, 2024, at the age of 94.
The 70 eligible contestants were from four of the five eligible districts in Kogi: Okewe, Ohema, Erika, Aganiye and Adavi.
Reacting to the judgment, Gov. Ododo, called for calm in the state.
The state Attorney-General, Mr Muzi Abdullahi, who spoke to journalists in Lokoja, over the case, said that the governor has instructed him to appeal against the court verdict.
We are confident that the decision will be reversed. The citizens should use restraint and refrain from acting in a prohibited manner.
We disagree with the decision because the judge ignored the concerns we had before him.
The judgment is neither here nor there.
‘ You should know that the law is straightforward. One plus one is two, and it can’t be contested.
Source: Channels TV
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