10/07/2025
THE FACTS ABOUT THE IDUNDUN VS OKUMAGBA CASE & THE SO CALLED 281.1 ACRES POSSESSORY RIGHTS
1. The case was actually a LEGAL BATTLE BETWEEN THE ITSEKIRIS AND THE URHOBOS.
The itsekiris were represented by Denton Oyibodudu Idundun, Awani, Hesse, C.A Lori (Rita Lori's father), itsekiri communal land trust and The Olu of Warri. The Urhobos who were the defendants were represented by Chief Daniel Okumagba the then secretary of the Olodi Oki and Ighogbadu families (Picture 3)
2. Interestingly the first plaintiff for the itsekiri in this case Denton Oyibodudu Idundun is paternally an Urhobo man and he attested to this fact in an earlier affidavit he personally sworn in 1970. He affirmed that he is from Uduvwun Urhobo (check picture 11 & 12) which the itsekiris corrupted to IDIMI SOBO in that particular case
3. The itsekiris sued the Urhobos over a land measuring 281.1 acres. This disputed land is in possession of the Urhobo and it is not the only land owned by the Urhobo people of Okere. It is part of the over 3000 acres of land belonging to the Urhobo people of Okere.
4. In trying to ascertain the true owner of the disputed land, the trial judge Justice E.A Ekeruche examine the evidence of both the plaintiff (ITSEKIRIS) and the defendants (URHOBOS), two clearly distinct tribe.
i. The plaintiff (itsekiris) claimed that the 281.1 acres of land is part of the land founded by Ekpenede/Ogitsi and was later surrendered to Ginuwa after they fought a battle. They also claim that Okere is from the word KEREO meaning "they are few" and stated that they are all descendants of Ekpenede/Ogitsi and Ginuwa (picture 4 &5)
Ii. The defendants (Urhobo) on the other hand affirmed that they are the children of OKPEKI a great hunter from present day Okpare Olomu in Ughelli south LGA who went on an hunting expedition and discovered a v1rg1n land and his children namely Sowhoruvwe Owhotemu and Idama later migrated and.first founded the various tracts of lands belonging to them in Okere.(picture 5)
5. The defendants later prove with evidence that the first plaintiff is their bl00d Paternal cousin and they also proved with evidence how various members of the Ogitsi family obtained land lease Including the Hussey College land from the defendants (Urhobo) family prior to the Idundun vs Okumagba case.
6. The trial judge notice the faulty genealogical claims of the plaintiff (itsekiris).
They claimed that Ekpenede founded Okere in 1482 but could not correctly state the genealogy of Ekpenede/Ogitsi to this generation leaving the learned Justice Ekeruche to notice a lacuna of 300 years.
The Defendants (Urhobos) on the other hand correctly states their genealogy from the founders of Okere to this generation and also state how the itsekiris came to Okere through an Ishan man (Ogitsi just like Sagay of Sapele) who was allowed to squat in the river banks of Okere
7. Justice Ekeruche after careful examination of the facts brought before him dismissed the Ekpenede/Ogitsi and Ginuwa story of the plaintiffs (itsekiris) and described it as FABRICATIONS CONCOCTED JUST TO GRAB LAND (Check picture 6&7) and duly affirmed that OKERE WAS FOUNDED BY THREE URHOBO BROTHERS NAMELY SOWHORUVWE OWHOTEMU AND IDAMA and also accepted the Urhobo version of how Ogitsi came to Okere. (Check picture 8)
8. THE URHOBOS OF OKERE NEVER WON 281.1 ACRES OF LAND ❌
This is an erroneous and deceptive fabrication usually paraded by the itsekiris.
Instead it was THE ITSEKIRIS THAT LOST THEIR BID TO GRAB 281.1 ACRES OF LANDS FROM THE OVER 3000 ACRES OF LANDS BELONGING TO THE URHOBO PEOPLE OF OKERE AS THEY COULD NOT SUBSTANTIATE THEIR CLAIMS IN COURT (Check picture 10)
9. The Court also stated that the URHOBOS OF OKERE WERE NEVER TENANTS TO ANYONE IN OKERE AND AFFIRMED THEM TO BE THE OWNERS OF THEIR LANDS (check picture 10)
10. The court also ordered the itsekiris to pay the sum of N1,500 to the Urhobos of Okere
JUSTICE EKERUCHE ALSO STATED THAT WHATSOEVER KINGDOM FOUNDED BY GINUWA NEVER EXTENDED TO OKERE.
HOW CAN A KING WHICH THE COURT HAS DECLARED THAT HIS KINGDOM NEVER EXTENDED TO OKERE CLAIM TITLE OVER OKERE? is this not delusion of the highest order?
THE JUDGEMENT OF JUSTICE E. A EKERUCHE WAS UPHELD BY THE SUPREME COURT IN SUIT NUMBER SC/309/74
BEWARE OF THE DECEPTIVE NARRATIVE OF THE ITSEKIRIS ABOUT THE OWNERSHIP OF OKERE.
