By DADA AYOKHAI
An Edo High Court sitting in fugar Etsako central LGA on thursday , March 26, 2026, sacked Michael Eshiorenoya Sado as Okuokpellagbe of Okpella and reinstated Lukeman Oghehemhimhe Akemokue.
, Justice O.A. Otamere in his ruling held that due process was not followed in the removal of Akemokue in 2025 by Governor Monday Okpebholo.
The judgment held that the governor’s withdrawal of recognition amounted to an abuse of office.
The suit no HAG/12/2025 was brought before ithe court by Engr Lukeman Oghehemhimhe Akemokhue, the dethroned Okuokpellagbe of Okpella kingdom.
The defendants in the suit are Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State, the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, the State Commissioner for Local Government Community and Chieftaincy Affairs
Others are the Etsako East traditional council, High Chief Ayuba Acheku, and Michael Eshiorenoya Olorunfemi Sado.
In its judgment, the court averred that Engr Lukeman Oghehemhimhe Akemokhue was not given a fair hearing before he was dethroned as Okuokpellagbe of the Okpella kingdom by Governor Monday Okpebholo on April 30, 2025.
The court opined that the state governor did not prove that it complied with the provisions of the law before withdrawing the recognition of the Claimant as the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella, noting that such withdrawal without due process is an abuse of office and should not be allowed to stand.
Otamere added that allowing the governor’s action to stand would not only defeat the spirit and letters of the ageless and timeless principles of audi alterem partem which have since found itself into the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) (as amended) but would also make a mockery of the provisions of the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs’ Edict of 1979.
”That the purported removal of the Claimant as Okhokpellagbe (Traditional Ruler) of Okpella vide Government Special announcement dated April 30, 2025 arbitrarily without giving him a hearing on any alleged wrong doing against him is contrary to his right to fair hearing guaranteed under section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and therefore null and void”, he said.
The judge who resolved all issues for determinations in the suit in favour of the claimant noted that there was no doubt that he (Engr Lukeman Oghehemhimhe Akemokhue) was duly appointed as the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella on September 22, 2024.
The court also ruled that the
claimant remains and is still the Okuokpellagbe (Traditional Ruler) of Okpella and therefore entitled to function in that capacity and to receive all the perquisites attached to that office.
It also ordered that, the Claimant is entitled to continue to attend the meetings of the 4th Defendant (the Etsako East traditional council).
The Judge who agreed with the submissions of counsel to the claimant made a consequential order directing the 6th Defendant (Michael Eshioronoya Olorunfemi Sado) to vacate the throne as Okuokpellagbe (Traditional Ruler) of Okpella forthwith.
He also averred that the appointment of the claimant by the State Government on September 22, 2024, was duly gazetted for the information of the general public as required by law.
He posited that the state government, however, by a special notice published and widely circulated on various social media platforms revoked the appointment of the Claimant without notice of any wrongdoing or allowing him to defend himself against any allegation.
Court Reinstates Lukeman Akemokue as Okpella Monarch
