Warri Court Orders Military to Produce Detained Ewu Monarch Over Okuama Killings

The Federal High Court sitting in Warri has ordered the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, to produce the detained President General of Ewu Kingdom, Professor Arthur Ekpekpo, in court on September 30, 2025.

The order was issued by Justice H. A. Ngajiwa on Monday during a hearing in suit No. FHC/WR/CS/42/2024, filed by the Okuama community, seeking the release of its detained leaders.

Prof Ekpekpo and several others were arrested in 2024 in connection with the tragic killing of 17 soldiers reportedly on a peacekeeping mission to the Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State.

Among those arrested between August 18 and 20, 2024, were:

Pa James Oghoroko, President General of Okuama (now deceased in custody)

Pa Dennis Okugbaye, Treasurer

Chief Belvis Adogbo

Pa Anthony Ahwemuria
Mrs. Rita Akata

According to reports, Pa Oghoroko died while in military detention, and Pa Okugbaye reportedly collapsed in custody and was rushed to a hospital for treatment.

The arrests followed a military operation in Okuama that led to a mass exodus of residents and the establishment of an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Ewu by the Delta State Government.

During Monday’s proceedings, Dr. Jonathan Ekperusi, counsel for Prof Ekpekpo, submitted a motion on notice requesting bail for the detained monarch.

In response, Justice Ngajiwa ruled that:

"An order is made against the 3rd and 5th respondents to produce the 1st applicant (Prof Arthur Ekpekpo) in court on the next adjourned date.”*

The court also directed that the order be served on the Attorney-General of the Federation. The hearing on the bail application was adjourned to September 30, 2025.

Efforts to reach Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, were unsuccessful. Calls were not answered, and messages remained unanswered at the time of filing this report.

Public pressure continues to mount over the prolonged detention of the community leaders. In December 2024, Senator Ede Dafinone, representing Delta Central Senatorial District, condemned the death of Pa Oghoroko in military custody and demanded that Prof Ekpekpo and the remaining detainees be either released unconditionally or charged in a civil court.

"This prolonged detention without trial undermines the rule of law,” Dafinone said at the time. “If there are charges, let them face a civil court. Otherwise, release them without delay.”

As legal proceedings drag on, the people of Okuama remain displaced, and their leadership structure in disarray. With a monarch in custody, a community leader dead, and others hospitalized or behind bars, the call for justice grows louder by the day.

Justice Adjourns Hearing to September 30 as Community Demands Release of Arrested Leaders