Court adjourns Okuama leaders rights suit till Nov 13

A Federal High Court, sitting successful Warri, Delta State, yesterday, adjourned till November 13, 2025, proceeding successful the suit by Okuama community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, who are challenging the prolonged detention of their leaders by the Army since August 18, 2024.

The assemblage is seeking the merchandise of Prof. Author Okpeku, the President General of Okuama community, Chief Belvis Adogbo, Dennis Amalaka, and Mabel Owhemu, who person been held for implicit a year.
One of the detainees, Pa James Oghoroko, the president of Okuama community, died successful detention.

The detained Okuama leaders were arrested and detained by subject men betwixt August 18 and 19, 2024 aft the unfortunate sidesplitting of 17 Army officers and soldiers successful the community.

The service was expected to nutrient the detained assemblage leaders successful court, but astatine the proceeding successful the matter, yesterday, counsel to the service informed the tribunal of a preliminary objection, filled challenging the suit.

The justice had sought to cognize the presumption of the matter, erstwhile the service counsel informed that a preliminary objection they filed had not been heard.

Counsel besides hinted of not being definite wherever the communuty leaders, were being held, an accusation that caused unease among the assemblage radical who were successful court.

Meanwhile, lawyer for UPU, Dr. Jonathan Ekperusi, expressed disappointment that the service refused to obey the tribunal bid to contiguous the detained assemblage person successful court.

He questioned wherefore the Nigerian Army was detaining the individuals, stating that lone the constabulary person the authorization to bash so.

Ex-Secretary General of Ewu Clan Development Forum, Pastor Edewor Ogedegbe, speaking connected behalf of the Okuama assemblage and household members of the detainees, expressed symptom and vexation implicit the prolonged detention of their leaders.

He emphasised that the assemblage is law-abiding and had chosen to travel the regularisation of law.

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