By Our Reporter
There is no visible end in sight to the many family squabbles that had partitioned the Olomu family of the Koko community (in the Warri North Local Government area of Delta State) along with factional interests and many other internecine disagreements. At least, in a few months to come, fractionated Olomu family would remain so, as two of their elderly alongside their supporters would be locking horns in a legal fisticuff that one might be tempted to describe as a highly cerebral case devoid of sentiment whatsoever.
Olomu is the largest family stock among the seven (7) Ugogomeje known today and from time immemorial as Iweroko and Ameren family; Iweroko has had six children while Ameren had a child known as Medu. Of all six children of Iweroko namely Eburu ( the eldest), Akeko, Abiwenye, Egbele, and Omawumi, Olomu was the most famous. The influence that Chief Nanna Olomu, a member of the family had to sustain and eventually had the name of Koko etched on the world map. Chief Nanna was among a few local/African Chiefs to have significantly challenged British imperialism in the continent of Africa and beyond.
Warri Mirror magazine check revealed that trouble started sometime in 2022 when Pa. Richwel Atsenuwa resigned from the position of Olare-Aja of the entire Koko community. Before his resignation. Pa Atsenuwa was the Olare-Ebi of the Olomu family. His appointment as Olare-Aja paved the way for Pa. Samuel Esijolomi Itor to emerge as Olare-Ebi of Olomu. Consequent to the resignation of Pa. Atsenuwa as Olare-Aja, Pa Itor who was the defacto Olare-Ebi of Olomu became the Olare-Aja of the Koko community, making the position of the Olare-Ebi vacant. Following this Pa. Samuel Anirejuoritse Sea was elevated to be Olare-Ebi of the family. Pa. Sea’s appointment as Olare-Ebi could not see the light of the day as it was terminated through a back door scheming, our sources disclosed.
The Suit WNACC/6/2023 was brought by Pa. Samuel Anirejuoritse Sea against Pa. Anthony Oluwatsemisan Nanna. The plaintiff is asking the Area Customary Court at Koko to declare him the Olare-Ebi of Olomu, being older than the defendant and the eldest Olomu descendant after Pa. Richwel Achenuwa and Pa. Samuel Itor. Plaintiff also prayed the court to nullify all nominations and decisions made and taken by the defendant as same were fraudulent as his appointment as Olare-Ebi of the Olomu family.
Also among the reliefs sought by the plaintiff is for the Court to compel the defendant to tender unreserved apologies to the entire Olomu family for lying about his age. The Plaintiff told the Court that he was born in 1932 and was 91 years as it stands. He contended that he knew the Defendant as a far younger brother who should be in the neighbourhood in his mid-80s. The Plaintiff stated that he had ample of proofs to his age and was ready to present them as evidence at the appropriate time during the trial of the matter.
The case slated for the 30th day of January 2023 was for mention. However, counsel to the plaintiff led by Jolone Ikomi, Esq. was prepared to go on and led the Plaintiff in Examination-in-Chief, being a summary trial. But, counsel to the defendant, who was not in Court on the ground of ill health, declined the hearing and failed to file their defence. Wilson Alashan Esq. asked the court for a date to do so to enable the hearing of the matter.
The court premises at Koko was filled up and arrays of cars were seen dotting both sides of the road. The present case had attracted so much interest and concern amongst members of the Olomu family and some persons believed that the case would most likely decide the future unity of the family, our sources revealed.
While counsel for the Plaintiff wanted a quick and short date to go on with the matter, counsel to the defendant led by Alashan Esq, himself a member of the Olomu family had to push for the 20th day of March 2023 for a hearing, a development that led the Chairman of the Area Customary Court to comically ask counsel to the defendant if both parties would be alive to see his long date of 30th date of March 2023 for hearing. Counsel to the Plaintiff also expressed the fear that the defence might use long adjournment dates to frustrate the case as it was visible that they had no substantial defence to make.
It is instructive to note that the court case was uncalled for. The plaintiff and the defendant are from the Ugogometa in Olomu family. While Samuel Sea, herein the plaintiff is from Ebisanine, the defendant is from Nanna. Nanna, Ebisanine and Ebeji were siblings from the same mother, an Urhobo woman from Effurun and one of the many wives of Chief Olomu Asorokun. In a nutshell, both parties are cousins and should know their age in line with seniority better than anyone, and this is what the court shall decide from the evidence before it.
