IN THE HIGH COURT OF RIVERS STATE OF NIGERIA IN THE PORT HARCOURT JUDICIAL DIVISION HELD AT PORT HARCOURT BEFORE HIS LORDSHIP, JUSTICE E. N. THOMPSON SITTING ON TUESDAY, THE 7 DAY OF JULY, 2026 SUIT NO. PHC/712/2018
BETWEEN
1. HRM, KING FRED I.T. TIENE-PEREFI, ELE VII
2. CHIEF EDWARD 0. I. ADOKIYE-OBOM
3. CHIEF TUBODUBO F. O. ELENI-DAPPA
4. CHIEF CHEAMINA B. GBOBO
5. CHIEF IDAFIERECHI IBISIKI PEREFI
6. CHIEF-ELECT ADULPHUS FURO ORUCHIN (Sulng for themselves and as representing the Ele Kingdom In Ogu/olo LGA., Rlvers State) CLAIMANTS.
AND
1. MR. FELIX OKURU
2. THE HON. ATTORNEY-GENERAL & COMMISSIONER DEFENDANTS FOR JUSTICE OF RIVERS STATE. DEFENDANTS
PARTIES: 1″ and 2nd Clalmants present; 1″ Defendant present.
APPEARANCES: Chuks Uguru with P. I. lwunze, B. C. Chuks Uguru, 0. O. Okoh, O. A. Elekwachi, C. C. Okparaolu and M. E. lyanba for the Claimants. Sir A. Ndubulsi with C. P. Okorie for the 1″ Defendant.
JUDGMENT: The Claimants Instituted this Suit by a Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim flled on 9th March, 2018. It was filed against three Defendants. The name of the original 2nd defendant was struck of his demise. Then the process were amended and the claimants now seek the followlng reliefs in their amended Statement of Clalm filed on 30h September, 2022.
i) A DECLARATION that in line with the custom and traditlon of Okrika as applicable to Ele Community and as confirmed by the Arbitration Report/Award dated 19/07/2019, the 1″ Claimant Is the duly elected and coronated/crowned Amayanabo of Ele Kingdom In Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of Rlvers State.
ii) A DECLARATION that the 1″ Defendant being a member of Imbu War Canoe House of Ele and not a member of Oruchln family In the larger Oruchin War Canoe House In Apina Royal Famlly of Ele ls not qualifled to be elected and/or coronated as Amanyanabo In line with the custom and tradltlon of Okrika as application (slc) to Ele and by virtue of the existing Customary Court Judgments In Occ/50/2000 and OCC/27/2008.
(iii) AN ORDER setting aside the purported selection, electlon and/or coronatlon of the 1st Defendant as Amanyanabo Ele Apina VIl or howsoever called, named or described as pertaining to the klngship of Ele Community In Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State.
(iv) AN ORDER OF PERPETUAL INJUNCTION restraining the 1″ Defendant from parading or holding himself out or creating/maintaining any other Council of Chiefs/Kingship Stool or palace using any name In Ele Community whether in existence or not and/or present himself to the 2nd Defendant or to any other person or body saddled with the responsiblity of granting official
recognitlon to traditlonal rulers In Rivers State with any other name of stool or through any other Councll of Chiefs other than the Ele Councll of Chiefs which is the only legitmate Councl of Chiefs under the control of the 1″ Claimant for the purposes of being accorded any form of recognition as Amanyanabo of Ele Kingdom in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of Rlvers State or howsoever called, or described in line with the Arbitration Report/Award.
(v) AN ORDER directing the 1″ Defendant to pay to the Claimants the sum of N2million as general damages for disturbing the peace and reign of the 1st claimant, which the sum also covers litigation expense and sundary expenses.
