By Rita Enemuru, Reporting
COUNSEL to the monarch-elect of the Okporua Ruling House, Oghenejabor Ikimi, Esq., says there is no court order restraining the Delta State Government from going ahead with the planned presentation of staff of office to his client as the Ovie of Udu Kingdom on November 7th 2025.
Ikimi, who spoke to Stonix News via telephone on Tuesday, explained that contrary to reports suggesting tension in the community or a pending restraining order, the court has not made any pronouncement halting the ceremony.
He said the court matter was adjourned to 18 December 2025 to allow all parties a fair hearing.
According to him, during the last court sitting on 16 October 2025, the claimants came with a motion seeking to restrain the government from presenting a staff of office to his client.
However, he said the motion was served on him that same day, which made it improper for the court to hear it immediately.
He explained that he objected to the claimants’ request for an interim order, insisting that his team had not been given time to respond to the motion.
“I told the court that we were just being served that morning, and it would be unfair to hear the motion without giving us time to react,” he said.
“The court agreed and adjourned the matter to December 18 to allow us to file our response.”
Mr. Ikimi noted that the claimants’ counsel had also asked the court to order all parties to maintain the status quo until the next hearing, but he opposed the request.
Oghenejabor Ikimi Esq.
“They wanted the court to stop the coronation indirectly by ordering that the status quo be maintained.
“I objected because there was no legal basis for such an order, especially when we had not even responded to their motion,” he explained.
The lawyer emphasised that there is currently no legal restriction stopping the state government or his client from proceeding with the planned event.
“As we speak, there is no tension in Udu.
“I am an Udu man myself, and everything is calm. God willing, my client will be crowned and given his staff of office on the 7th of November. There is no cause for alarm,” he said.
He maintained that the claimants were within their rights to approach the court but argued that they had not fulfilled the conditions required to bring a chieftaincy case before it.
“They are free to file their processes, but there are conditions precedent in such cases. Until those are met, they do not have a cause of action,” he further said.
Mr. Ikimi added that his team had already filed a counter-affidavit in response to the motion after leaving the court and would be ready to defend their position when the case resumes.
“The court has not said the government should halt the process,” he said confidently. “There is no restraining order because the court has to hear from both sides first.”
He further explained that even if the coronation goes ahead before the case is concluded, it does not invalidate the court’s eventual decision.
“Even if the man has been crowned, that does not stop the case.
“If my client loses, which is unlikely, they can always swear in whoever the court declares as the rightful person.
“But for now, my client remains the monarch-elect, and the law has not stopped his coronation,” he added.
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