By Gabriel Enogholase

BENIN—ONE of the claimants to the stool of the Onojie of  Ewu in Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State, Prince Jafaru Isesele,  has threatened to initiate contempt proceedings against the officials of the state government, who he claimed, have continued to treat with disrespect, the judgment of the Appeal Court over the Ewu chieftaincy dispute which was in his favour.

In a petition to the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Edo State, through his counsel , Mr. K. Obamojie, Isesele recalled that following the appellate court’s judgment in the appeal filed by Prince Razaq Ojiefo, another claimant to the title, the Esan Central Traditional Council met and resolved that the financial entitlements due to the stool of the Onojie of Ewu should no longer be paid to Prince Ojiefo, who was alleged to be an impostor and usurper of the throne of the Onojie of Ewu.

The Edo Central Traditional Council had  in its resolution contended that since Prince Ojiefo had lost out in both the state High Court and the Court of Appeal, the financial entitlements should be kept in an escrow account pending the outcome of Prince Ojiefo’s final appeal at the Supreme Court.

The petitioner added that this was more so since neither the Court of Appeal nor the Supreme Court, had ordered a stay of execution of the Court of Appeal’s judgment.

He said that it had been brought to his notice that notwithstanding the present legal status of Prince Ojiefo regarding the chieftaincy dispute and pendency of the matter at the Supreme Court,  the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs has in utter contempt of the appellate court judgment and in a clear bid to undermine the resolution of the Esan Central Traditional Coucil resolution, directed that the entitlements due to the stool of Onojie of Ewu be deducted at source at the ministry and paid directly to Prince Ojiefo.