Edo State: Estako monarch threatens to drag judge before NJC

Alhaji Aliu Danesi, the Aidonogie of South Ibie clan, in Estako, Edo State, has threatened to petition the National Judicial Council (NJC) over Justice E. Ikpomnwen’s ruling on the kingship of the clan, after he accused the judge of bias in the libel suit instituted by him.

The monarch had filed a libel suit against Prof. I. Bello-Iman, Chief Shaibu Imogore, Chief Dirisu Ekhalefo, Chief Zubiri Momodu and Alhaji Jafara Saliu, after he alleged that the defendants libeled him by petitioning the Edo State Commissioner of Police accusing him (Danesi) of hiring assassins to go after some certain persons in the community.

In his judgment, however, Justice E. Ikponmwen of the Benin High Court said Danesi, had no right to institute the suit in the first place since the Court of Appeal had deposed him as Aidonogie.

But the monarch, who is the Edo government recognized Aidonogie, narrated that “the Court of Appeal judgment which the judge referred to was delivered in 2003 and the action before her was instituted in  December 2000”.

He explained that the Court of Appeal judgment did not depose him but only said that the state House of Assembly should amend the law as regards the kingship of South Ibie by replacing the issue of eldest surviving son of any of the ruling houses and replacing it with any capable man in the family.