The attention of the Okpe Union National Executive Council has been drawn to the illegal and nefarious activities of one Joseph Aboze, Kings Iriri, Jackson Amererhoro and a few others who parades themselves as the National Executive Council of the Okpe Union having according to them, been handed over the leadership of the Okpe Union to by the Orodje of Okpe’ self constituted and illegal Interim Executive Committee led by Prof. Emurobome Idolor which the Federal High Court sitting at the Lagos Division, CORAM: ALAGOA .J has since declared illegal usurpers of power cum office.
It must be noted and for the avoidance of doubt, the Federal High Court, Lagos Division, in the judgment delivered on the 19th day of January, 2023, on the Okpe Union Autonomy Suit (Suit No. FHC/L/CS/603/2022) filed by the Prof. Igho Natufe led elected National Executive Council wherein the Honourable Court held that: the Prof. Emurobome Idolor group is illegal as the Orodje of Okpe lacks the authority to dissolve and impose a leadership on the Okpe Union. The judgment clearly states that the illegal interim group as well as their privies and everything they did including reconstitution of Board of Trustees and arranged parallel elections were void. Consequently, the court issued a perpetual injunction restraining the illegal group, their privies and all those deriving authority (including handover) from them, from acting or parading themselves as the leadership of the Okpe Union. The injunction also restrains the Corporate Affairs Commission from recognising or otherwise having any dealings with them.
There was no time that the Okpe Union was stagnated as the tenure of the National Executive Council which was purportedly dissolved, elapsed and another National Election was conducted on the 15th of May, 2021 at the Registered Office of the Okpe Union, No. 65, Moshalashi Street, Obalende, Lagos, which produced the Prof. Igho Natufe led National Executive Council
which went to court and secured the historical judgment of the Federal High Court, Lagos that the Okpe Union is autonomous of the Palace. It is a well known legal position that even though they may have filed for appeal, a Notice of Appeal does not serve as a stay of execution of a court judgment. There is therefore no legal basis for any of them to act against the judgment of the Federal High Court, Lagos.
We urge all Okpes to close ranks and embrace unity. We have exercised restraint and refrained from embarking on contempt of court proceedings against these contemnors to give room for a peaceful resolution of the matter for unity is a necessary condition for growth and development. If it however gets to the point of invoking contempt of court proceedings against them, our compatriots should be able to identify where the blame should go.
We hereby inform the general public and particularly all Okpe people, that the Okpe Union disclaims any of the activities of Joseph Aboze, Kings Iriri, Jackson Amererhoro and all those parading themselves as members of their Executive Committee as well as their privies. They do not represent the Okpe Union at all. The Okpe Union shall not be responsible for any of their actions or activities. Thus, anyone who deals with the illegal group does so at his or her own risk. General Public, Take Note.
As we come together to celebrate the Adaene Okpe, we once more call for unity and synergy in the Okpe Nation.
Signed:
Prof. Igho Natufe,
President General, Okpe Union.
Akpederin Kingsley E. Esq.
General Secretary, Okpe Union.
Mrs. Atarhe Abuh
National Publicity Secretary, Okpe Union.
