Inside Edo
Appellate court dismisses appeal in Delta LG's dispute, sparking conflicting interpretations
Written By: Emmanuel Ikhenebome
18 Dec 2025 01:35 PM
Asaba, Delta – The Court of Appeal in Nigeria has dismissed an appeal filed by Ijaw parties concerning entitlements in Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State, in a ruling that has reignited longstanding ethnic tensions between the Itsekiri and Ijaw communities.
The decision, delivered on December 17, 2025, in Appeal No. CA/AS/154/2024, has been hailed by Itsekiri advocates as a affirmation of their historical ownership, while Ijaw representatives have dismissed such claims as misleading propaganda, insisting the case was procedural and not about land rights.
The appeal stemmed from a lower court decision involving H.R.M. Monbene III, the Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom, who sued the Warri South Local Government Council over the discontinuation of stipends previously paid to his predecessor.
The appellate court, sitting virtually via Zoom, upheld the trial court's ruling to strike out the case on the grounds that it was filed beyond the three-month statutory limitation period for actions against public officers.
No merits of ownership or territorial claims were addressed in the judgment, according to clarifications from Ijaw stakeholders.
Itsekiri groups, however, interpreted the dismissal as a broader victory.
The Warri Sentinel, a local outlet, reported the ruling as dismissing Ijaw claims to Warri South, emphasizing the unanimous decision by the three-justice panel.
In swift rebuttal, Hon. (Barr.) Jeffrey Pere Oromoni, an Ijaw leader and barrister, issued a statement calling the Itsekiri narratives "false and misleading."
He clarified that the case was solely about stipend payments, not land ownership, and that the court recognized the Ijaw as an indigenous community in the area.
"The issue of Itsekiri ownership of Ogbe-Ijoh areas in Warri Township never arose for determination," Oromoni stated, urging the public to obtain certified copies of the judgment to avoid misinformation.
The Itsekiri-Ijaw conflict over Warri dates back decades, rooted in colonial-era boundaries and competing claims to urban land in what was historically known as Warri Kingdom.
The Itsekiri, an ethnic group with Yoruba affiliations, assert overlordship based on titles from the British colonial administration and prior court rulings, such as those in the 1920s and 1960s.
The Ijaw, one of Nigeria's largest ethnic groups, maintain that Ogbe-Ijoh and surrounding areas are ancestral Ijaw territories, predating modern demarcations. Past flare-ups, including violent clashes in the 1990s and early 2000s, have led to loss of life and displacement, prompting government interventions and multiple legal battles.
A certified copy of the full judgment was not immediately available for independent verification, but stakeholders from both sides have called for calm.
Delta State authorities have yet to comment, though local leaders warn that misinterpretations could escalate tensions in the volatile region.
This ruling adds to a series of legal precedents, but without addressing core ownership questions, it may not resolve the underlying feud.
The decision, delivered on December 17, 2025, in Appeal No. CA/AS/154/2024, has been hailed by Itsekiri advocates as a affirmation of their historical ownership, while Ijaw representatives have dismissed such claims as misleading propaganda, insisting the case was procedural and not about land rights.
The appeal stemmed from a lower court decision involving H.R.M. Monbene III, the Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom, who sued the Warri South Local Government Council over the discontinuation of stipends previously paid to his predecessor.
The appellate court, sitting virtually via Zoom, upheld the trial court's ruling to strike out the case on the grounds that it was filed beyond the three-month statutory limitation period for actions against public officers.
No merits of ownership or territorial claims were addressed in the judgment, according to clarifications from Ijaw stakeholders.
Itsekiri groups, however, interpreted the dismissal as a broader victory.
The Warri Sentinel, a local outlet, reported the ruling as dismissing Ijaw claims to Warri South, emphasizing the unanimous decision by the three-justice panel.
In swift rebuttal, Hon. (Barr.) Jeffrey Pere Oromoni, an Ijaw leader and barrister, issued a statement calling the Itsekiri narratives "false and misleading."
He clarified that the case was solely about stipend payments, not land ownership, and that the court recognized the Ijaw as an indigenous community in the area.
"The issue of Itsekiri ownership of Ogbe-Ijoh areas in Warri Township never arose for determination," Oromoni stated, urging the public to obtain certified copies of the judgment to avoid misinformation.
The Itsekiri-Ijaw conflict over Warri dates back decades, rooted in colonial-era boundaries and competing claims to urban land in what was historically known as Warri Kingdom.
The Itsekiri, an ethnic group with Yoruba affiliations, assert overlordship based on titles from the British colonial administration and prior court rulings, such as those in the 1920s and 1960s.
The Ijaw, one of Nigeria's largest ethnic groups, maintain that Ogbe-Ijoh and surrounding areas are ancestral Ijaw territories, predating modern demarcations. Past flare-ups, including violent clashes in the 1990s and early 2000s, have led to loss of life and displacement, prompting government interventions and multiple legal battles.
A certified copy of the full judgment was not immediately available for independent verification, but stakeholders from both sides have called for calm.
Delta State authorities have yet to comment, though local leaders warn that misinterpretations could escalate tensions in the volatile region.
This ruling adds to a series of legal precedents, but without addressing core ownership questions, it may not resolve the underlying feud.
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