Wariso Senapu saga:
Bori High Court hears injunction motion Jan 12
Hon. Justice I.A. Iyayi-Lamikanra of Bori High Court 2 in Bori judicial division has fixed January 12, 2010 for the hearing of motion of interlocutory injunction brought by Mr. Sunday I. Wariso and 12 other members of Chief Wariso War-canoe House of Opobo Town restraining Mr. Igoni William-Park and seven others of same house from parading themselves as Senapu or elders of Wariso House, Opobo Town.
Justice Iyayi-Lamikanra made the declaration at her first hearing of the matter on November 23, 2009, having replaced the former Judge of Bori Court 2, Hon. Justice R.I. Ahiakwo who commenced hearing of the matter in 2006.
Justice Iyayi-Lamikanra's decision to hear the motion for the injunction was sequel to the insistence by counsel to plaintiffs, Opufaa Ben-Whyte Esq.
The decision to hear the motion puts an end to protracted arguments, claims and counter claims by both sides as to whether the injunction motion was properly heard and disposed off as claimed by the defendants' counsel, Edward Obomanu Esq.
It would be recalled that in a suit No. BHC/60/2006 dated 26th September, 2006 Mr. Sunday I. Wariso leading 12 other members of Wariso House in Opobo Town, Rivers State, for themselves and on behalf of other members of Chief Jim Wariso War Canoe House, except the Defendants/Respondents, aver that seven members of the Wariso family namely, Messrs Igoni William Park, Andrew Wariso, Adagogo Epe Wariso, Silver G.D. Wariso, Isaiah Wariso, Sampson Silvernus Wariso and Dr. Kennedy T. Wariso, all Defendants/Respondents, purportedly abused the due process for selecting and approving House Elders or Wari Senapu by screening and approving themselves as Senapu or elders in non-compliance with Opobo native law and custom.
According to the court process made available to this correspondent by the claimants counsel, “the 1st to 7th Defendants purportedly screened and selected themselves for the Senapu stools of the Wariso War Canoe House without the approval of the House and have surreptitiously set up an inauguration planning committee for installation.”
Mr. Sunday Wariso and 12 others had, in addition to several claims, sought for an order of injunction restraining 1st to 7th Defendants/Respondents from parading themselves jointly or severally as elders or Senapu of Wariso War Canoe House. They also sought an order restraining the 8th Defendant, HRM Dandeson Douglas Jaja (JP), Amanyanabo (King) of Opobo Kingdom “from recognizing, installing or in any manner whatsoever or however treating the 1st to 7th Defendants as leaders or Wari Senapu of Wariso War Canoe House.”
Earlier on September 20, 2007 the same Bori High Court had dismissed a motion brought by the Defendants/Respondents led by Igoni William Park and 6 others urging the court to strike out the motion on interlocutory injunction on the grounds that the matter in court had previously been decided upon by the Opobo Council of Alapu (Chiefs). But, the court had stated that the Defendants' application did not satisfy the requirements needed by the court, insisting that there was no proof that the case had been decided by the Opobo Council of Chiefs previously. The Hon. Justice Ahiakwo had struck out the Defendants' motion with a cost of N2, 000 for wasting the court's time.
As things stand, the stage is now set for the court to hear the Claimants' motion for interlocutory injunction come January 12, 2010.
