Four years deep, a Warri kingmaker is still fighting suspension in court, fines are flying, and nobody is backing down.
Why was the courtroom stayed tense
Why was the courtroom stayed tense
- Ayirimi Emami walked out of High Court 4 in Warri, saying delays will not break his resolve.
- The case targets his suspension as Ologbotsere, effectively the Prime Minister role in the Warri Kingdom.
- Veronica Agboje fined the second defendant’s lawyer N20,000 for missing filing deadlines.
- The pre-trial did not move forward, and the matter shifted to March 16, 2026.
- The proceedings are sitting at High Court 4 in Warri, Delta State.
- Emami made his comments moments after leaving the court premises.
- He argues that touching the Ologbotsere position shakes the foundation of the Warri Kingdom.
- His position is that native law and custom do not give families, committees, princes, or co-chiefs the authority to suspend an Ologbotsere.
- Emami is also a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Delta State.
- He went to court to formally contest the suspension.
- The case pits Emami against Akoma Dudu Dimeyin and other defendants.
- Named parties also include Emmanuel Okotie-Eboh and Johnson Amatserunleghe.
- Emmanuel Uti said the late filing blocked proper pre-trial review.
- He insists no ruling house, committee, prince, or co-chief holds suspension powers over a chief.
- He also says the team plans to rely on video evidence from Mene Brown backing that claim.
- Counsel for later-numbered defendants, Ame Oriakhi, argued the dispute has passed its moment.
- The defense line is that the suspension ended, a recall happened, another title was offered, and Emami declined.
- Alex Eyengho accused the defendants of dragging the case with serial filings.
- He said serving documents on the morning of pre-trial stalled progress and visibly irritated the court and other parties.
- Pre-trial is reset for March 16, 2026.
- Emami says he is staying in court until a final call is made, delays or not.
