After a legal battle that spanned more than two years and bordering on a chieftaincy title dispute, the Ogulagha Traditional Council of Chiefs in Ogulagha Kingdom, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, have secured a judgement in their favour from the Effurun judicial division of the High Court of Delta State, against Chief Lucky Gbeneyei.

Hon. Justice Roli Harriman on her judgement in suit No. EHC /158/ 2021 between the claimant Chief Gbeneyei, and the defendants Elder Capt. King Dr. Joseph Timiyan (JP), Ebenanaowei of Ogulagha Kingdom, Torububor 1, Agbonu; Chief Williams Igere, Chief Prefugha Karawei and Chief Emaye Benidiwei on behalf of the Ogulagha Traditional Council of Chiefs, restrained the claimant from referring to himself as Gbeneyei 1 of Ogulagha Kingdom.

Recall that Chief Gbeneyei, who said he was duly conferred with a chieftaincy title at Operemor Kingdom, demanded a public apology from the defendants over their publications in the Vanguard newspapers of 9th and 20th June, 2021, were he alleged they refused to recognise him as a Chief of Ogulagha Kingdom, a position he claimed affected his hard-earned reputation.

However, in her rulings, Justice Harriman declared that Chief Gbeneyei was not conferred the chieftaincy title of Gbeneyei 1 by the traditional ruler of Ogulagha Kingdom and as such should not have used the title in a newspaper publication.

In addition, the judge dismissed the claims of Chief Gbeneyei with the sum of two hundred thousand naira (N200, 000k) cost in favour of the defendants and awarded five hundred thousand naira (N500, 000) as damages to the defendants for libellous statements published by Chief Gbeneyei.

The court further restrained Chief Gbeneyei from referring to the trio of Chief Igere, Chief Karawei, and Chief Benidiwei as mindless, which is defamatory and reduces the respect accorded them by the public.

Speaking on the outcome of the judgement, the Public Relations Officer of the Ogulagha Traditional Council, Chief Prefugha, hailed the judgement of the High Court as the right decision and that it will further deter others from illegality.

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