The Ebedei Council of Chiefs in Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State has said its attention has been drawn to publications made in NewsNet Nigeria and The Nation online newspaper where it was alleged that the Delta State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mr. Anthony Orhohoro secured the release of a convict from prison.
Reacting to the allegation made in the publications, the Ebedei Council Of Chiefs in a statement jointly signed by the Onotu Uku of Ebedei Umunyalum who doubles as the Onotu Uku General of Ebedei Clan, Chief Thomas Ishie; the Onotu Uku of Ebedei Umuezeogoli, Chief John Ogwu; the Onotu Uku of Ebedei Ogbe Uzu Chief Godday Oshiogune; the Onotu Uku of Ebedei Umuosele Chief Peter Opute; the Onotu Uku of Ebedei Ukwuole Chief Sunday Onoke; the Onotu Uku of Ebedei Isamelu Chief Johnson Oluka and the Onochieze of Ebedei Clan Chief Alphonsus Odili said the Ebedei Council of Chiefs frowned at the said publications, describing it as full of misrepresentations and falsehood.
The statement said that it was not abnormal for a defendant in a matter before a court of competent jurisdiction to file a bail application, pending appeal for an alleged minor offence, adding that it was worthy of note that the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, as the Chief Legal Officer of the state, has the legal rights to take up any criminal legal proceedings in all courts in the state.
It stated that the author of the said news item, Mr. Benson Oyemogum who addressed the alleged press conference that gave rise to the said publications did not disclose all facts in respect of the said matter before the court to the newsmen.
The Ebedei Council of Chief noted what gave rise to the said Whatsapp publication for which Chief (Engr.) Fidelis Ishie, an Ebedei’s resource personality and President General of Ebedei Umunyalum Community where Mr. Oyemogum hails from, was sued based on defamation and convicted.
The statement disclosed that the alleged defamatory publication on the community WhatsApp platform over which Mr Oyemogum went to court was the product of the decisions reached at the end of a meeting of the Council at Ebedei Uno town hall in September 2019.
The statement stressed that Mr. Oyemogum did not disclose to the newsmen that he was suspended/ostracized from the said Council of Chiefs/Ebedei community (Itu Ngbu or Obeme) as a result of his failure to honour the Council of Chiefs’ invitation in respect of a land case which was brought before the Council of Chiefs for adjudication and peaceful resolution in which he was alleged to have forcefully grabbed from the original owners.
It further explained that Mr. Oyemogum failed to honour the Council of Chiefs invitation but rather boasted that he would use his wealth to get justice at any level.
The Ebedei Council of Chiefs also disclosed that the main matter with suit number MOB/50C/2020 came up at the Chief Magistrate Court 1 Obiaruku where Chief (Engr.) Fidelis Ishie was discharged and acquitted in January 2022.
According to Ebedei Council of Chiefs, Mr Oyemogum who was bent on punishing Chief Ishie for publishing the true decisions reached by the Council of Chiefs in Ebedei Development Committee Whatsapp group appealed to the High Court of Justice at Umunede where the said judgement of the learned Chief Magistrate Court 1 was set aside and transferred same to Junior Magistrate Court 2 in the same jurisdiction for retrial.
It clarified that Chief Ishie who was dissatisfied with the decisions of the High Court, filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal in Asaba Division with suit No.CA/AS/117C/23 and Charge No.HCU/IC /2022 and both appellant and respondent briefs were exchanged between the two counsels handling the matter.
The Council of Chiefs added that the Presiding Magistrate Court 2 who insisted on hearing the matter irrespective of evidence of Appeal at the Appellate court conducted a speedy trial on the matter and rejected all presentations of the Chiefs who testified in the court and convicted the defendant to two years imprisonment without an option of fine.
The Council of Chiefs appealed to Delta State Government to call Mr Oyemogum to order because he was bent on using his wealth to oppress all Ebedei educated elites and resource persons who were not holding the same view as him on issues affecting Ebedei community.
It stated that Mr. Oyemogum had on several occasions, arrested their indigenes including the Onotu Uku General, Late Chief Stephen Otulugbu and the Okpala Uku represented by Late Okwa Charles Ogwude, to Delta State Police Command and Zone 5 Headquarters in Benin and were advised after interrogations to go home and settle such matters amicably.
The Ebedei Council of Chiefs recalled that Mr Oyemogum had instituted 4 court cases against Ebedei’s prominent sons with aim of jailing them.
According to the Ebedei Council of Chiefs, “There is need for the Delta state government to call Mr Oyemogum to order because if his activities are not checked, such activities are capable of causing crisis in the entire Ebedei community “.
