Justice Cletus Emifoniye of Oleh High Court in Delta State has ordered Prince Sunday Eloho-Eke to remain in office as substantive President-General of Uzere Kingdom pending determination.
of appeal before the court.
Justice Emifoniye, while delivering the ruling on Monday in Suit No. HCO/M/26/2026, also
barred the rival claimants from taking over leadership positions in the community.
The court directed all parties involved in the protracted leadership tussle to maintain the status quo as existed before a controversial letter dated Dec. 3, 2025.
The court specifically restrained the 4th to 6th defendants/appellants: Raphael Odorewu, Edafemako Agbaka, and Solomon Ogueri from parading themselves or acting as members of the Central Executive Committee of Uzere Kingdom until the determination of the appeal.
The court granted an interlocutory injunction restraining the Delta State Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Social Development, and other respondents, from implementing or acting on directives contained in the disputed Dec. 3, 2025 letter.
Justice Emifoniye
further ordered a temporary suspension of those directives pending the outcome of the appeal.
The court, however, awarded a costs of N1 million against the 4th to 6th respondents in favour of the applicant, Christiana Okrunu.
Consequently, the court directed the general public, including companies operating in Uzere Kingdom to continue official dealings with Prince Eloho-Eke as the substantive President-General.
Reacting to the ruling, Prince Eloho-Eke called on indigenes of Uzere Kingdom to embrace peace, unity, and respect for the rule of law.
In a statement he made available to newsmen in Ughelli, Eloho-Eke urged the stakeholders to remain calm and law-abiding, disclosing that development and reconciliatory efforts were on top gear.
He described the ruling as a collective victory,
“Today, following yet another clear pronouncement of the court, affirming justice, legality, and due process.
“I address you not in bitterness, but in the spirit of reconciliation, unity, and collective progress,” he said.
Eloho-Eke emphasized that respect for judicial decisions is fundamental to societal progress, stressing that no community could thrive where lawful judgments were ignored or selectively obeyed.
“This is not a victory for one man; it is a victory for justice, for due process, and for the integrity and future of Uzere Kingdom,” he said.
The President-General also extended an olive branch to the traditional rulers, community leaders, youths, and indigenes at home and in the diaspora to reaffirm his commitment to peace and development.
He cautioned against actions capable of undermining peace or violating lawful directives.
The President-General urged aggrieved parties to respect judicial authority and work together for the common interest and progress of the kingdom.
According to him, this is the time for healing; time for reconciliation and time for unity.
Eloho-Eke, however, called on all sons and daughters of Uzere Kingdom to remain peaceful and committed to building a stronger and more prosperous community.
It is worthy to mention that this ruling marks the latest development in the ongoing controversy surrounding the tenure of the Uzere Community Executive Council.
Recall that an earlier judgment delivered on Dec. 20, 2024, in Suit No. MCO/26/2024, had reaffirmed the supremacy of the Delta Community Development Association (CDA) Law over the Uzere Constitution in regulating leadership tenure within the community.
According to the Delta Gazette dated Jan. 22, 2022, Article 9, Section 4 provides that:
“All officers of the CDA shall hold office for a period of three years and may be re-elected for another term of three years.”
The court in its previous ruling, averred that the purported amended constitution of Uzere Kingdom (2022) is subordinate to the Delta Community Development Association Law of 2021, which sets a three-year tenure for community executive