Breaking: Enigies Drag Obaseki to Court Over Creation of Local Government Traditional Councils

By Correspondent

The Enigie Group in the Palace of Oba of Benin who are appointed by the Oba to preside over dukedoms in Edo South Senatorial District have dragged Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State to a Benin High court in Edo State.

The Enigies are challenging the recent decision of the Edo State Executive Council led by Obaseki, to create ‘Local Government Traditional Council’ in each of the seven Local Government Areas of Edo South Senatorial District.

The Suit No: B/187/2023 was filed at the High Court of Justice, Edo State. The Enigies stated that they have repeatedly pledged their loyalty to the authority of the Benin Monarch and acting as representatives of the Benin Traditional Council avers that the decision of the Governor-in- council violates the age long tradition of the Benin people which stipulates that the Oba of Benin is the sole traditional ruler of the entire Benin Kingdom which is the territory of Edo South Senatorial District and the said seven Local Government Areas.

The Enigies argues that the attempt by the government to create Local Government Traditional Councils in the areas amounts to “Balkanizing” the Benin Kingdom, as there can be no other traditional ruler in the Kingdom to warrant creation of separate traditional councils in the affected Local Government Areas.

They therefore pray the High Court of Edo State to declare the action of the State Government as in conflict with the Benin Customary Law and the extant Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Edict, 1979 applicable in Edo State, which clearly affirms the sole traditional rulership of the Oba of Benin in the Benin Kingdom, as well as the sole competence of the Benin Traditional Council in the entire Seven Local Government Areas of Edo South.

The Motion on Notice filed in the Suit to restrain the Governor Obaseki and other Defendants, has been fixed for September 5, 2023.

The affected Local Government Areas are: Oredo Local Government Area, Ovia North-East Local Government Area, Ovia South-West Local Government Area, Egor Local Government Area, Uhunmwode Local Government Area, Orhionmwon Local Government Area and Ikpoba – Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.