Compiled by Adrian O. Edema
The historical and legal status of Itsekiri and Agbassa
land in Warri has been a subject of judicial clarity for decades. Below are indisputable
facts, backed by court judgments and historical records, that every
stakeholder must know:
1. The Olu of Warri’s
Overlordship
·
The Olu of Warri is the recognized overlord
of all three Warri Local Government Areas, including lands occupied by the
Agbassa community.
2. Okere: An Itsekiri
Community with Six Quarters
Okere,
an Itsekiri community in Warri, comprises six quarters (Idimi):
·
Odekporo
·
Jakpa
·
Odeile
·
Ogunobite
·
Ajamimogha
·
Idimi Sobo (the smallest, now partially
occupied by an Urhobo kingdom).
3. Agbassa Settlements in Warri
Agbassa
lands include:
·
Ejeba
·
Oteghele
·
Ogunu
·
Ekurede Urhobo
·
Igbudu
·
Ikpokiti
4. Agbassa as Customary Tenants
·
Agbassa people are customary tenants under
the Olu of Warri, as affirmed by multiple court rulings:
o
Suit No. W/41/57
o
Suit No. W/121/57
o
Suit No. W/44/1941
o
Suit No. W/3/1949
5. Supreme Court &
Privy Council Judgments
·
The Nigerian Supreme Court and British Privy
Council have conclusively ruled that Agbassa land belongs to the
Itsekiri. Key cases:
o
Ometa vs. Chief Dore Numa (1934) 11 N.L.R. 18
(Privy Council dismissed Agbassa’s appeal).
o
SC67/1971 & SC327/1972 (1973 Supreme
Court reaffirmed Itsekiri ownership).
6. No Parliamentary Nullification
·
No law or parliamentary action has ever
revoked the Olu of Warri’s overlordship over Agbassa land. Claims of an
"Ovie of Agbassa" as overlord are legally unfounded.
7. Consequences of
Denying Olu’s Overlordship
·
Courts can revoke Agbassa’s occupancy rights
if they reject the Olu’s authority (Suit No. W/44/1941; SC67/1971 &
SC327/1972).
8. Judge Jackson’s Dual Rulings
·
The same judge (Justice Jackson) who
ruled in favor of Okpe-Urhobo in the 1941 Sapele land case also upheld
Itsekiri ownership of Agbassa land (Suit No. W/44/1941).
9. Kingship ≠ Land Ownership
·
Creating a kingdom (e.g., "Ovie of
Agbassa") does not confer land ownership. Just as Hausa/Igbo kings in
other regions don’t own their host lands, Agbassa remains customary tenants
of the Olu.
10. Name Changes Don’t Alter
Ownership
·
Renaming areas (e.g., "Agbassa
Kingdom") does not change legal title. Customary tenancy is
perpetual.
11. Supreme Court’s Final Word
(1973)
In
SC328/1972, the court stated:
"The
Itsekiri are the legal owners of Agbassa land. Agbassa occupants are tenants
subject to forfeiture if they alienate land without the Olu’s authority...
Attempts to relitigate this are groundless."
12. Conclusion: Settled Matter
These
facts are unassailable, backed by verified court judgments.
Anyone disputing them must provide equally credible references.
Warri
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References: All cases cited are publicly verifiable in Nigerian and British
legal archives.