A BENIN MAN CAN ONLY HAVE ONE IGIOGBE

The court of appeal sitting in Benin City has declared house No. 102 Lagos street, Benin City, as the Igiogbe of the late Mr. Alfred Omoregie Odiase.

Delivering judgment in the matter filed before the court in the year 2002, the lead Judge, Hon. Justice Helen Moronkeji Ogunwumiju, held that the house belongs to the 1st Respondent, Mr. Henry Omoregie, being the eldest surviving son of his late father, Mr. Alfred Omoregie Odiase who died on 11th August 1993 in Benin City.

The court, declared that the semi detached building also belongs to the 1st Respondent without any encumbrances, emphasizing that any bequest of shops etc, to any other beneficiary made by the late man via a WILL was void.

Hon. Justice Ogunwumiju, however, declared that all the bequests in respect of the separate house No. 102B, Lagos street, Benin City, is not part of the Igiogbe being a separate house on the land is valid.

It was further held by the court that the 1st Respondent is not entitled to any other part of the houses, land or shops at No. 41B, now 81B New Lagos road, Benin City.

The court noted that the claim at the trial court and the counter claim indicates that both parties agreed that the Igiogbe is the ancestral home of the deceased at 102 Lagos street.

Making recourse to a Supreme Court judgment, Hon. Justice Ogunwumiju held “under Benin Native Law and Custom, Igiogbe means a principal house where a deceased Benin Man lived and died; the right to inherit and possess such property vested only in the eldest son. The tradition takes precedent over and above the wishes of a deceased father no matter how strong he feels against his son as the prospective heir . It is a right vested in the eldest son and cannot be divested by means of disinheritance.”

The Appellants in the case are; Mr. Omoregie Asaolu, Anthony Edosomwan, Ikponmwosa Odiase, Mrs. Orobosa Atu (Nee Omoregie), Mrs osayomore (Nee Omoregie), Gumwendia Omoregie, mrs Eghianruwa Osagiede (Nee Omoregie) Etinosa Omoregie and Oghogho Omoregie.

COURT KNOCKS EDO GOVT. OVER ILLEGAL RETIREMENT OF PERMANENT SECRETARY

The National Industrial Court sitting in Benin City has declared as null and void, the retirement directive issued by the Edo State government handed over to one Mrs. Caroline Edo-Osagie, during the Adams Oshiomhole’s administration in 2013.

In his judgment, presiding Judge, Hon. Justice A.A. Adewemimo, held that the Claimant’s sudden removal from office as a Permanent Secretary was unconstitutional, illegal, null and void and of no effect.

The court also held that the Claimant was removed from office for lack of due process and without giving her right to fair hearing.

The court consequently set aside the purported retirement letter dated 30th April 2013 issued to Mrs. Edo-Osagie by the Edo State government while the suit was pending before the court, an action the court declared as unconstitutional, illegal and a breach of her condition of service.

Hon. Justice Adewemimo who held that the Claimant was appointed a Permanent Secretary in Edo State effective 30th March 2008 and was published in the Edo State Gazette No.14V of 23 March 2008 as Legal Notice No. 22, noted with dismay the manner she was removed from office without any lawful justification.

Hon. Justice Adewemimo ordered the Edo State government to pay Mrs. Edo-Osagie her salaries as permanent secretary with effect from 17th August 2012 to 14th August 2013.

The Edo State government was also ordered by the court to pay the Claimant her furniture allowance as well her pension per month with effect from 31st August 2013 till the date of the judgment.

NON-PAYMENT OF RENT STALLS EDO APC PRIMARIES.

Delegates who turned out to participate in the Edo State Governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress in Oredo Ward 12 were locked out of the Party’s Secretariat due to non-payment of rent. As early as 8am, the delegates were at the Secretariat along Forestry Road, Benin City, and landlord of the house told them that the party was owing him two years rent arrears, insisting that he will not open the place for them until his rent is paid. Owing to the development, the Acting ward chairman, Hon. Ernest Edebiri, led them to the house of the former Ward Chairman few houses away from the Secretariat. The former Ward Chairman, PA. Erhunmwunsee, led the delegates back to the Party’s Secretariat, but when it became obvious that the landlord was not willing to shift his grounds, the delegates and Officials for the Edo State primary election started to disperse.