At the resumed hearing of the complaint filed by suspended Enogies (Duke) in Benin against Oba Ewuare II, over a hundred priests, priestesses, and palace chiefs surged the Edo State High Court on Thursday, yelling curses against the Oba’s enemy forces.

Prof Gregory Akenzua and Chief Edomwonyi Ogiegbaen, two suspended Enogies (Dukes) of the Evbuobanosa and Egbaen Siluko Dukedoms of the Benin Kingdom, sued the monarch at the Edo State High Court, challenging their suspension from office on behalf of several others.

The two also claimed, speaking for others, that the monarch, who had suspended them for defying him, could not remove them from their positions; rather, it was the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, who could.

In a lawsuit brought by suspended Enogies in Benin against the Oba, the High Court admitted the Benin Traditional Council as a party.

In a decision on Thursday, Justice Peter Akhihiero approved the first defendant’s request to add the Benin Traditional Council to the list of defendants in the lawsuit with the case number B/250os/2023. The first and second defendants in the complaint are, respectively, Oba Ewuare II and Edo State Government.

In response to an application made by Prof. Yemi Akinseye-George, SAN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie and his team on behalf of the second defendant, Prof. Gregory Akenzua, and Edomwonyi Ogiegbaen, who both sued the Oba of Benin over their suspension by Oba Ewuare II in 2023 as Enogies of Evbuobanosa and Egbaen Siluko Dukedoms in Edo South Senatorial District, the ruling was made in response to their case.

The parties involved in the lawsuit, Edo State Government (represented by Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, State Attorney General and State Commissioner for Justice), Oba Ewuare II, Prof. Gregory Akenzua, and Edomwonyi Ogiegbaen (represented by their respective attorneys, led by Dr. Osagie Obayuwana, who had objected to the motion through Oba Ewuare II’s counsel), were instructed by Justice Peter Akhihiero to amend all pertinent court documents to reflect the ruling.

The claimants, Prof. Gregory Akenzua and Edomwonyi Ogiegbaen, through their counsel, Dr. Obayuwana, prayed the court not to list the council as a party in the suit and urged the court to award a fine against Oba of Benin in favor of the claimants, while other parties in the suit supported Oba Ewuare II’s counsel’s position to join the Benin Traditional Council.

However, Justice Peter Akhihiero dismissed the requests, stating that Obayuwana need not be concerned about the timing and that “the battle is not for the strong, nor the race for the swift.”

“If they are bringing in the Traditional Council as necessary, I don’t see this as a problem since you people have brought the Oba to court.

“I don’t think I can shut down any party. Let them come in and file their processes.”

In the event that there is no objection, Justice Akhihiero postponed the case’s hearing to July 15, 2024.

Around the State High Court Complex on Sapele Road in Benin City, there was a strong security presence.

Nonetheless, because of their sheer number, none of the people who attended the court in support of the Oba were permitted entry.

Adoration and support for the Oba was shown by groups of Edo sons and daughters, including chiefs and members of the royal family.