The faceoff between outgoing Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, and the Ojuromi of Uromi, Zaiki Edenojie II, reached a climax on Wednesday with the latter’s deposition.
The decision was conveyed to the man addressed ordinarily as Aselm Edenojie in a letter by Secretary to the State Government, Professor Julius Ihonvbere.
Titled “Deposition from Office as Ojuromi of Uromi: Addendum”, it reads “Please be informed that the initial Exco decision of 26th October 2016 has been further affirmed.
“Consequently, you have been deposed as the Ojuromi of Uromi pursuant to Section 28 (i & ii) of the Traditional Rulers & Chiefs Law, 1979.
“Kindly, therefore, disregard our letter of 4th November 2016 on the subject “Re: Letter of Apology to Edo State Government.”
The king’s problem with the Oshiomhole government began on September 28, when he was accused of assaulting a woman, Betty Okoebor, during the governorship polls.
He was also accused of interfering in the conduct of the election, leaving his palace to canvass votes for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
He was given a query and ordered to apologise to the woman assaulted.
The dethroned king ignored the letter and even ignored the government by travelling out of his domain.
The government placed him on a seven-day suspension and demanded a letter of apology for snubbing it and failing to apologise to the lady assaulted.
On November 4, the government stepped up its sanctions by suspending the king for one year, effective from Monday.
In addition, the monarch who ruled the home town of Tony Anenih, the PDP leader, was stripped of all his rights and privileges that he had hitherto exercised. He was also to lose a share of the five per cent revenue accruing to the local council.
But the traditional ruler, through his counsel, Benjamin Iruobe, instituted a legal action against Oshiomhole and 11 others, urging the court to declare that the action of the governor (second respondent) amounted to recklessness and abuse of office, was unconstitutional, unlawful, actionable and without a just cause.
Other respondents in the suit are the state Commissioner of Police, Assistant Inspector-General of Police (Zone 5); the Inspector-General of Police, the Nigeria Police Force, Betty Okoebor and Matthew Okoebor.
The plaintiff, in the suit instituted in pursuance to Order Two and Four of the Fundamental Rights Procedure Rules, 2009, under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, among others, requested an order of the court for the enforcement of his fundamental rights under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in terms of the relief sought in the statement in support of his application.
He also prayed the court to order that the sum of N1bn be paid to him as compensation for damages against the respondents jointly and severally and as reparation for the alleged assault, torture, arrest, detention and harassment against him in the course of their alleged unlawful acts.
He was finally dethroned on Wednesday.
