The Federal High Court sitting in Warri has adjourned until October 5, 2026, the suit filed by Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo and others against the Federal Government of Nigeria and others.
The adjournment followed an application by counsel to the respondents during proceedings before Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa.
Speaking with journalists after the sitting, counsel to the applicants, Mr. Andrew Ubido, expressed disappointment over the respondents’ continued failure to comply with the court’s earlier order directing the immediate and unconditional release of the detainees.
Ubido recalled that the court had granted the order during its previous sitting about a month ago but noted that the applicants remained in military custody despite the ruling.
He said the respondents had been duly served with the court order and urged them to obey the directive by releasing the Okuama leaders, who were arrested by the military in 2024 following the killing of 17 soldiers in the Okuama community.
According to him, compliance with the court’s order is essential to uphold the rule of law and public confidence in the administration of justice.
Also speaking, the Secretary-General of the Ewu Clan Development Forum, Pastor Edewor Egedegbe, described the continued detention of the Okuama leaders as disturbing, lamenting what he called the Federal Government’s and the Nigerian military’s failure to comply with the court’s directive.
He appealed to the people of Ewu and Okuama to remain peaceful and law-abiding while calling on the Delta State Government, the judiciary, the Nigerian Bar Association, civil society organisations and other relevant stakeholders to intervene and ensure the implementation of the court’s order.
Similarly, the President of the Movement for the Survival of Okuama People, Comrade Daniel Etaga, expressed disappointment over the continued detention of Prof. Ekpekpo and the other detainees, urging the respondents to comply with the court’s order without further delay.
The detainees are Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, President-General of Ewu Kingdom; Chief Belvis Adogbo; Dennis Malaka; and Mabel Owhemu. They have remained in military custody since 2024 following their arrest in connection with investigations into the killing of 17 military personnel in Okuama.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to October 5, 2026, for further proceedings.
