By Anthony Ochela, Auja
The Appeal Court Makurdi has adjourned to January 21, 2026 for continuation in the suit seeking to void the inauguration of Mr. Elaigwu Odogbo as Och’Idoma.
When the suit came up at the court on Tuesday, 21st October, the applicants through their counsel, T. Shembe, sought leave of the court to for an extension of time to file their processes and that the respondents have no cause to oppose the motion.
The respondents through their counsel, S.A Ochoga, argued that they have a reply brief.
The judge, however, granted the application and adjourned proceedings to January 21, 2026 for parties to address the court.
The suit originally marked: OHC/51/2022 originated from the High Court of Benue State in the Otukpo Division and was filed June 27, 2022.
The plaintiffs are Chief Ocheje Ominyi, who is the District Head of Ulayi and Mr. Joseph Ikwuobe from Apa.
The twenty-six defendants include the Governor of Benue State as 1st Defendant with Mr. Elaigwu Odogbo as 26th defendant.
The plaintiffs are challenging the selection of Mr. John Elaigwu Odogbo as Och’Idoma using the instrumentality of a legislation referred to as “Benue State Council of Chiefs and Traditional Council’s Law 2016” which abolished the chieftaincy system in Idoma land and placed it in the hands of the government and its agent.
Their suit argued that; “the government legislation has no blessing from the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria(as amended).
The respondent’s case at the High Court in Otukpo seeks to nullify the Benue State law.
The appellants opposed the jurisdiction of the court to entertain and determine the suit pursuant to the provision of the 2016 Benue State chieftaincy law.
The High Court dismissed the appellant’s objection March 13, 2023 and further dismissed the same objection June 13, 2023.
The court slated the matter for hearing of interlocutory application before it, however the government and the District Heads (the Beaded Chiefs) appealed to the Court of Appeal Makurdi Division.
