Okuama 17: Court Orders Military Chief to Produce Detained Monarch in Delta
The Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, has ordered the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, to produce the detained President General of the Ewu Kingdom in Ughelli South Local Government Area, Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, in court at the next adjourned hearing scheduled for September 30, 2025.
Justice H. A. Ngajiwa issued the order on Monday during a hearing on the bail application filed in suit No: FHC/WR/CS/42/2024 by representatives of the Okuama community.
Prof. Ekpekpo, along with Mr. Julius Oghoroko, Mr. Bernard Esegba, and others, was arrested in 2024 in connection with the killing of 17 soldiers reportedly deployed on a peace mission to the Okuama community.
Several other community leaders were arrested by military personnel between August 18 and 20, 2024. Among them were the President General of the Okuama Community, Pa James Oghoroko; the community Treasurer, Pa Dennis Okugbaye; Chief Belvis Adogbo; Pa Anthony Ahwemuria; and Mrs. Rita Akata.
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Tragically, Pa James Oghoroko died while in military custody on December 4, 2024. Pa Okugbaye reportedly collapsed in detention and was taken to a hospital for medical care. These arrests followed the military’s invasion of the Okuama community, which caused mass displacement, forcing residents to seek refuge at a camp for internally displaced persons established by the Delta State Government in Ewu.
In response, the Okuama community approached the court to demand the release of their detained leaders. During Monday’s proceedings, Prof. Ekpekpo’s counsel, Dr. Jonathan Ekperusi, moved a motion seeking bail for his client.
Ruling on the motion, the court directed the third and fifth respondents to produce Prof. Ekpekpo in court on the next adjourned date. The order is also to be served on the second respondent, the Attorney General of the Federation.
“The case is hereby adjourned to the 30th day of September 2025 for hearing of the pending motion for bail,” the court ruled.
As of the time of filing this report, Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, had not responded to calls or messages seeking comments on the development.
It will be recalled that Senator Ede Dafinone, representing Delta Central Senatorial District, had previously called on military authorities to either release the detained Okuama leaders unconditionally or charge them to court without delay. His appeal came in the wake of public outrage following the reported death of Pa Oghoroko in detention in December 2024.
By PRNigeria
