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Tag: Ohinoyi of Ebiraland

  • Ohinoyi of Ebiraland sack: Court orders stay of execution

    Ohinoyi of Ebiraland sack: Court orders stay of execution

    The High Court in Lokoja on Thursday ordered a stay of execution of the judgment sacking the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Ahmed-Anaje.

    Justice Umar Salisu gave the order following an application for stay of execution on his earlier judgment that removed Anaje as Ohinoyi of Ebiraland.

    NAN reports that the traditional ruler was removed by Justice Salisu in his judgment in a case filed by  Daudu Adeku-Ojiah, Hussain Yusuf and Abdulrahaam Suberu,  challenging  the Ohinoyi’s appointment by the former governor of the state, Yahaya Bello.

    The State Attorney General, Muiz Abdullahi (SAN), and the Ohinoyi, who filed the application for stay of execution, had told the court that they have filed an appeal before the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

    Abdullahi, prayed the court to grant an order for stay of execution in the judgment delivered on Feb. 3, in Suit No. HCO/05C/2024, pending the determination of the appeal lodged to the appellate court.

    “We also pray for any such orders or other orders as the Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of the application,’’ he pleaded.

    Responding, Mr Sani Abbas, who represented the Claimants/Respondents, did not object to the application.

    In his ruling, Justice Salisu, granted the prayer.

    ”In view of the circumstance, the application is hereby granted. The order is that the status quo remains pending the determination of the appeal filed before the court of appeal,” he held.

    “The defendants have argued that there are still live issues pending before this court and the appeal court in relation to Suit No.HCO/12C/2006.

    ”It is therefore logical that all issues connected to these cases, the instant case inclusive should be preserved until the outcome of the case is determined either by this court or Court of Appeal,” he held.

    In its appeal, the state government prayed the appellate court to give an order setting aside the decision of the lower court.

    The state also prayed the court to dismiss the suit of the 1st to 3rd Respondents at the trial court for lacking in merit.

    The appellants, however,  claimed that the ruling in HCO/12c/2006 that is Exhibit 1, relied upon by the 1st to 3rd Respondents was an interlocutory ruling in respect of processing, nomination, selection and appointment of some set of persons at the time, as Ohis to the five districts of Okengwe/Okene, Eia, lhima, Adavi and Eganyi.

    The added that the Learned Trial Judge erred in Law and reached a perverse decision when he placed heavy reliance on Exhibit P.O 4 annexed to an “Affidavit of Facts in Response to the 1s, 2nd and 3rd Defendants Notice of Preliminary Objection.

  • Kogi Govt files appeal against removal of Ohinoyi of Ebiraland

    Kogi Govt files appeal against removal of Ohinoyi of Ebiraland

    The Kogi Government has filed an appeal before the Court of Appeal in Abuja against the removal of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Alhaji Tijani Ahmed-Anaje, by a state High Court.

    Mr Muzi Abdullahi, the Kogi Attorney General, who is the 2nd claimant in the appeal made this known to NAN in Lokoja.

    Justice Umar Salisu of Lokoja High Court had on Monday in his judgment in a case filed by Daudu  Adeku-Ojiah, Hussain Yusuf and Abdulrahaam Suberu as 1st, 2nd and 3rd plaintiffs and challenged the appointment of Ahmed-Anaje by former governor Yahaya Bello as the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, ordered the sack of the paramount ruler.

    The plaintiffs, represented by Mr Lawal Rabana (SAN), had sued Gov. Ahmed Ododo, the State Attorney General, Muzi Abdullahi and the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland. Ahmed-Anaje as 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants in the case which began in okene before its transfer to Lokoja.

    The three plaintiffs had pleaded with the court to make a declaration that the procedure adopted in appointing the 3rd Defendant to the throne of Ohinoyi of Ebiraland was wrongful, unlawful.

    They also argued that the process was contrary to Procedure of Ascension to the Throne of Ohinoyi of Ebira Land, Edict No 3 of 1997guiding the appointment of Ohinoyi of Ebiraland.

    Ododo and the attorney-general in their appeal, which has  Adeku-Ojiah, Yusuf and Suberu as 1st, 2nd and 3rd Respondents, challenged the decision of the lower court.

    In the reliefs sought, the state government pleaded with the appellate court to allow the appeal and give an order setting aside the decision of the lower court.

    They also prayed the court to dismiss the suit of the 1st to 3rd Respondents at the trial court for lacking in merit.

    They said that the ruling in HCO/12c/2006 that is Exhibit 1, relied upon by the 1st to 3rd Respondents was an interlocutory ruling in respect of processing, nomination, selection and appointment of some set of persons at the time, as Ohis to the five districts of Okengwe/Okene, Eia, lhima, Adavi and Eganyi.

    In their five grounds of appeal, they alleged that  “the Learned Trial Judge erred in Law and reached a perverse decision when he placed heavy reliance on Exhibit P.O 4 annexed to an “Affidavit of Facts in Response to the 1s, 2nd and 3rd Defendants Notice of Preliminary Objection.”

    “The Learned Trial Court erred in law and reached a perverse decision to the detriment of the Appellants when it relied on an interlocutory decision in suit no:- HCO/12c/2006 between Dr. Habibu Angulu Sani v the Kogi Govt & 5 Ors.

    They argued that the trial Judge erred in law and same occasioned a miscarriage of justice against the Appellant when he assumed jurisdiction to hear and determine this instant suit when in actual, he lacked jurisdiction.

    They also argued that the judgment  of the court was against the weight of evidence presented at the trial.

    The claimants, however, prayed the court to allow the appeal and dismissed case of the respondents and the judgement of the lower court.

  • Just In: Court sacks Kogi monarch, Ohinoyi of Ebiraland

    Just In: Court sacks Kogi monarch, Ohinoyi of Ebiraland

    A State High Court in Lokoja on Monday sacked the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Alhaji Tijani Ahmed-Anaje.

    Justice Umar Salisu, gave the order in a judgment he delivered in Lokoja with a charge to Ahmed-Anaje not to parade himself as the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland.

    According to reports, Daudu Adeku-Ojiah, Hussain Yusuf and Abdulrahaam Suberu had in December challenged the appointment of Ahmed-Anaje by former governor Yahaya Bello as the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland.

    Represented  by Mr Lawal Rabana (SAN), the plaintiffs sued Gov. Ahmed Ododo, the State Attorney General, Muzi Abdullahi and the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland. Ahmed-Anaje as 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants in the case which began in okene before its transfer to Lokoja.

    The three plaintiffs had pleaded with the court to make a declaration that the procedure adopted in appointing the 3rd Defendant to the throne of Ohinoyi of Ebiraland was wrongful, unlawful.

    They also argued that the process was  contrary to Procedure of Ascension to the Throne of Ohinoyi of Ebira Land, Edict No 3 of 1997guiding the appointment of Ohinoyi of Ebiraland.

    They also sought for a DECLARATION that the purported recommendation of the 3rd Defendant by unknown king makers 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 process leading to the purported appointment of the 3rd Defendant as Ohinoyi of Ebiraland are non-existent, 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 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, had asked the court to dismissed the case for lack of merit.

    Justice Salisu, in his judgment , upheld the prayers of the claimants and ordered the Ahmed-Anaje to vacate the throne of Ohinoyi of Ebiraland pending a fresh selection by the king makers of the Ebiraland.

    NAN reports that no fewer than 70 candidates jostled  for the stool of Ohinoyi of Ebiraland in Kogi.

    They were screened by a committee to replace the late Alhaji Ado Ibrahim who died on Oct. 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 with NAN in Lokoja, over the case, said that the governor has instructed him to appeal against the court verdict.

    “We are confident that there will be a reversal of the judgement. The citizens should exercise restraint not to do any contrary to the Law.

    “We don’t agree with the judgment because the judge didn’t consider some objections we raised before him.

    “The judgment is neither here no there.

    “Tomorrow, by God’s grace. we are filing Notice and Grounds of appeal challenging the judgment of the court, ‘ The attorney-general said.

  • Kogi govt set to unveil new Ohinoyi of Ebiraland

    Kogi govt set to unveil new Ohinoyi of Ebiraland

    The Kogi Government is set to unveil a new Ohinoyi of Ebiraland out of the 70 contestants screened by a committee to succeed the late Dr Ado Ibrahim, an official has said.

    Alhaji Yunusa Sule, the Secretary of Ebiraland Traditional Council, confirmed this in an interview in Lokoja on Sunday.

    Recall that the deceased Ohinoyi died on October 29, 2023, after a protracted illness.

    “His Royal Highness, Alhaji Isa Musa-Achuja, the Ohi of Eganyi-led committee has finished its assignment by selecting seven qualified persons out of the 70 contestants screened,” Sule said.

    He gave the names of the lucky seven as former Deputy Governor of the state, Dr Philip Salawu; former Clerk of the National Assembly, Barrister Ataba Sani Omolori; and Gen. Yusuf Abubakar Amuda.

    Others are Mr Momoh Shaibu, Prof. Ibrahim Onuwe Abdulmalik, HRH Dr Ahmad Tijani Anaje, and Mr Ahmed Momoh Jimoh.

    The council scribe said that the governor was appreciative of the work of the kingmakers committee and commended them for a job well done.

    “Our state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, will within this week unveil a designate to assume the vacant stool of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland.

    “Already, the governor has held a meeting with the qualified seven aspirants recommended by the Kingmakers committee and from whom one would be appointed to take the stool.

    “The governor had during the meeting, urged the aspirants to display the spirit of good sportsmanship by supporting whoever is appointed by the government.

    “This is because he believes they are all qualified to occupy that stool, but which is meant for just one person,” he said.

    According to him, the governor also cautioned them against divisive statements and actions capable of disrupting the peace of the land.

    The number would had been 71, but the 71st person is a female Professor, Angela Oregwu-Okatahi, who by Ebira tradition is not eligible to contest for the stool

    The 70 eligible contestants were from four of the five eligible districts in Ebira land, comprising Okewe, Ohema, Erika, Aganiye and Adavi.

    However, Adavi was left out since the late Ohinoyi was from there.

    The stool of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland became vacant following the demise of Dr Ado Ibrahim, who passed on at the age of 74 years after a protracted ailment.

  • Late Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Alhaji Ado Ibrahim laid to rest in Okene

    Late Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Alhaji Ado Ibrahim laid to rest in Okene

    The remains of Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Alhaji Ado Ibrahim were laid to rest at his hometown, Okene, Kogi on Sunday.

    The corpse of the paramount ruler was committed to mother earth according to the Islamic rites around 8.40 p.m.

    Secretary of Ebiraland Traditional Council, Alhaji Salihu Sule, explained that the burial could not hold earlier because of unforeseen challenges as the corpse left Abuja late and only arrived in Okene around 6.45 p.m.

    “On arrival, there was a family meeting that was held before the final internment according to Islamic rites,’’ Sule said.

    Sheik Salihu Ebere, the Chief Imam of Ebiraland, who led the burial rites and prayers for the repose of the soul of the late Ohinoyi, prayed to God to forgive the royal father his sins.

    The cleric said since death is inevitable, all humans must be conscious of the fact and live a loving, peaceful and God-fearing life.

    In his remarks, Dr Godwin Oyibo, National President, Ebira Development Association, described the death of the paramount ruler as shocking and very painful.

    “With painful heart we have just laid to rest the remains of our leader and father, who died in the early hours of Sunday in a hospital in Abuja.

    “Committing his corpse to mother earth is very painful and unbelievable.

    “I have never been this close to someone who suddenly is no more. It has never happened to me till this time. He is the kind person one would not want to part with.

    “I have worked very closely with him for three years and he was a very wonderful leader. He has shown me that leadership is not about occupying the position, but about making impact.

    “It is unfortunate that we are greatly going to miss him,’’ Oyibo said.

    Present at the funeral were sons and daughters of Ebiraland, the Kogi governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the Attah of Igala, His Royal Highness, Matthew Opaluwa and other royal fathers in Kogi.

    The deceased Ohinoyi of Ebiraland was born on Feb. 7, 1929 and was the fourth traditional ruler and Ohinoyi of Ebiraland.

    He was a son of the second Attah (now “Ohinoyi’’) of Ebiraland, Ibrahim Onoruoiza of the Omadivi Clan, who reigned from 1917 to 1954.

    Ado-Ibrahim was enthroned as the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland in 1997 and reigned until Sunday, when he died.

    Before ascending the throne, Ado-Ibrahim was a successful businessman who lived most parts of his life in Lagos.

    Dr Ibrahim was born to His Royal Highness, Alhaji Ibrahim Onoruoiza Attah and Hajiya Hauwawu Ozianuva.

    Young Ado Ibrahim completed his Nursery and Quranic education at the age of 11 years.

    He was enrolled at the Okene Native Administration School from 1934 to 1940 for his elementary education. Upon completion of his elementary education, he was admitted to Okene Middle School in 1941.

    After spending two years, he moved to the famous Ondo Boys High School for his secondary education from 1943 to 1946. From 1947 to 1949, he moved to Oduduwa College, Ile-Ife, Osun where he completed his secondary education.

    He was employed by the United African Company (UAC) in 1950 as a special entrant for accelerated management.

    Having successfully gone through the Accounting and Sales Department in 1952, he was promoted to the post of Manager at the Kingsway Stores, Kaduna.

    In January 1953, he quit Kingsway Stores and moved to Jos as Personnel Manager of Amalgamated Tin Mines of Nigeria Limited in charge of maintaining operation areas of Bukuru and Barkin Ladi.

    In that same year, he attended the first Mining School in Jos and qualified as a Mining Prospector and Area Manager.

    Later in the year, the company sent him on a further technical training course, organised by the Anglo-American Mining Corporation, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

    Upon his return, he was immediately promoted to Area manager and assigned the responsibility to excavate the Lead/Zinc Ore deposits at Izom in the Abuja district, and to lead a team prospecting for gold and base materials in the location.

    Meanwhile, he had enrolled in 1952 as an external candidate for a degree at the London School of Economics, by utilising the extramural study facilities organised by the British Council in Jos.

    He combined his mining and prospecting duties successfully with the undergraduate study programme and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Statistics from the London School of Economics in 1954.

    In 1955, he won a Ford Foundation Sponsorship to undertake a six-month course in Marketing and Business Strategy at the Business School of Harvard University.

    On the strength of his performance, he was readmitted into the Master’s Programme of the school as a full-time student. He thus earned the celebrated Harvard MBA in 1959.

    Having fortified himself with practical industrial experience and sound academic training, he settled into marriage with Miss Abimbola Solomon on Nov. 1, 1959.

    NAN

  • UPDATE: Remains of Ohinoyi of Ebiraland for burial at 2:00pm

    UPDATE: Remains of Ohinoyi of Ebiraland for burial at 2:00pm

    The remains of Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Dr Abdulrahman Ado-Ibrahim, who died at 95 early Sunday morning, will be buried by 2:00 p.m. of Sunday.

    The Secretary of Ebiraland Traditional Council, Alhaji Yunusa Sule, told NAN in Lokoja that arrangements were being made to give him a befitting burial in Okene.

    “The burial ceremony is being scheduled for 2:00 p.m. today in Okene. We are waiting for the arrival of the corpse from Abuja, where he died, ” the secretary said.

    Sule said that the paramount ruler died at around 2:00. a.m. on Sunday in an undisclosed Abuja Hospital after a protracted illness.

    The scribe said his death was “very sad and a big blow” to Ebiraland.

    “We lost our daddy and leader this early morning of Sunday in an Abuja Hospital where he had been treated for age related ailment for three weeks now.

    “We are in shock and pain over his death. He was indeed a good father and leader to not just Ebiraland but Kogi and Nigeria as a whole.

    “His death has left a vacuum in the entire Ebiraland,” he said.

    NAN reports that Abdulrahman Ado-Ibrahim was born on Feb. 7, 1929 and was the fourth traditional ruler and Ohinoyi of Ebiraland with headquarters in Okene, Kogi State.

    He was a son of the second Attah (now “Ohinoyi”) of Ebiraland, Ibrahim Onoruoiza of the Omadivi Clan, who reigned from 1917–1954.

    Ado-Ibrahim was enthroned as the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland in 1997 and reigned until Sunday, when he died.

    Nevertheless, before ascending to the throne, Ado-Ibrahim was a successful businesman who lived most parts of his life in Lagos.

    Dr Ado Ibrahim was born to His Royal Highness, Alhaji Ibrahim Onoruoiza Attah and Hajiya Hauwawu Ozianuva.

    Young Ado Ibrahim completed his Nursery and Quranic education at the age of 11 years.

    He was enrolled at the Okene Native Administration School from 1934 to 1940 for his elementary education. Upon completion of his elementary education, he was admitted to Okene Middle School in 1941.

    After spending two years, he moved to the famous Ondo Boys High School for his secondary education from 1943 to 1946. From 1947 to 1949, he moved to Oduduwa College, Ile-Ife, Osun where he completed his secondary education.

    He was employed by the United African Company (UAC) in 1950 as a special entrant for accelerated management. Having successfully gone through the Accounting and Sales Department in 1952, he was promoted to the post of Manager at the Kingsway Stores, Kaduna.

    In January 1953, he quit Kingsway Stores and moved to Jos as Personnel Manager of Amalgamated Tin Mines of Nigeria Limited in charge of maintaining operation areas of Bukuru and Barkin Ladi.

    In that same year, he attended the first Mining School in Jos and qualified as a Mining Prospector and Area Manager.

    Later in the year, the company sent him on a further technical training course, organised by the Anglo-American Mining Corporation, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

    Upon his return, he was immediately promoted to Area manager and assigned the responsibility to excavate the Lead/Zinc Ore deposits at Izom in the Abuja district, and to lead a team prospecting for gold and base materials in the location.

    Meanwhile, he had enrolled in 1952 as an external candidate for a degree at the London School of Economics, by utilising the extramural study facilities organised by the British Council in Jos.

    He combined his mining and prospecting duties successfully with the undergraduate study programme and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Statistics from the London School of Economics in 1954.

    In 1955, he won a Ford Foundation Sponsorship to undertake a six-month course in Marketing and Business Strategy at the Business School of Harvard University.

    On the strength of his performance, he was readmitted into the Master’s Programme of the school as a full-time student. He thus earned the celebrated Harvard MBA in 1959.

    Having fortified himself with practical industrial experience and sound academic training, he settled into marriage with Miss Abimbola Solomon on Nov. 1, 1959.