After seven years of litigation, Edo State Government has dropped charges against Chief Rich Arisco Osemwingie for proclaiming himself the Ogiamien of Benin Kingdom without the authority of the Oba of Benin.
In a letter dated April 29, 2022, and signed by Mr Oluwole Iyamu, the Edo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and addressed to the Registrar, Magistrate Court 4, Benin, he wrote that the state government decided to enter a nolle prosequi following an agreement by the Chief Ogiamien to revert to his official statutory title as Ogiamien of Benin Kingdom as recognized under the government’s Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Law and legal notices issued thereto.
Besides, Iyamu explained that the action of the government was also as a result of the Ogiamien Family to withdraw all pending claims and/or appeals against the state government, Benin Traditional Council and/or any other authority arising from or related to any claim of sovereignty or traditional authority outside of the position recognized by the laws.
The attorney general reminded that the decision to prosecute the high chief in Charge No. MOR/148C/2015 and other legal and administrative charges arose because his actions and utterances at a time contravene traditional transition in the Benin Kingdom.
He added that the actions were deemed to be a breach of the government’s Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Law and present a clear and present danger to the peace and tranquillity of Benin and the entire state.
The spokesman of the Great Ogiamien Royal dynasty, High Chief Monday Wehere hailed Governor Godwin Obaseki for resolving the royal tiff between the Ogiamien Royal Family and the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba Ewuare 11.
Chief Wehere who spoke on behalf of the Ogiamien Royal Family commended Governor Obaseki for restoring the ancient family which dates back to the Ogiso DyBeninnasty back to its original official statutory position as the Ogiamien of Benin in line with the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Law and Legal Notices Edict No 37 of 1968.
He emphasized that the Ogiamien Royal Stool was recognized by the state government way back in 1968, noting with dismay that all the traditional rulers who were recognized in 1979, ten years thereafter presently use the appellation of either His Royal Highness or His Royal Majesty.
