Akugbene kingdom files contempt suit against top INC officials ahead of election

By Monday Peters, Abuja

Akugbene Mein kingdom has filed contempt of court suit against top INC officials ahead of the national election.

According to a report top officials of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) may face jail term over disobedience of Court orders as the contempt proceedings commenced at the Bomadi High Court, Delta State. On Monday, the 2nd of March, 2026, contempt proceedings were formally instituted against Dr. Kio Anyanate, Leader of the National Representative Council, Ijaw National Congress, Barr. Boma Tons Fetepigi, National Legal Adviser, Ijaw National Congress, Gabriel Benamiesegha, Clerk, National Representative Council, Ijaw National Congress and Princess Joyce Adesola Ebiseni, Deputy Clerk, National Representative Council, Ijaw National Congress.

It would be recalled that the INC had sometime ago in 2023 commenced the process of dividing the Akugbene Mein Kingdom in Delta State into two Clans. In response, His Royal Majesty, the Pere of Akugbene Mein Kingdom, King S. P. Luke, Kalanama V111 approached the Delta State High Court sitting in the Bomadi Judicial Division in Suit No. HCB/3/2023, between HIS ROYAL MAJESTY. S. P. LUKE, KALANAMA V111 v. THE INCOPPORATED TRUSTEES OF THE INC and PROF. BENJAMIN OKABA to stop what he termed as an illegal act of the Ijaw National Congress led by Professor Benjamin Okaba.

The Bomadi High Court on the 21st day of March, 2024 entered judgment in favour of HRM S. P. Luke, Kalanama V111 and perpetually restrained Prof. Okaba, the INC, its privies, agents and servants from taking any step whatsoever or recognising Kerebiri-Mein as a Clan in Delta State, Western Zone of the INC.

The INC and Professor Okaba’s application for the stay of execution of the judgment was dismissed by the Bomadi High Court on the 5th of February, 2025. The judgment was served on all top officials and organs of the INC, including the National Representative Council.

However, despite being aware of the judgment, the INC National Representative Council under the leadership of Dr. Kio Anyanate recently commenced a constitution review process of the INC and on the 1st day of February, 2026 recommended the recognition of the Kerebiri-Mein as one of the Clans to be created from the Western Zone of the Ijaw National Congress and elect delegates to participate in the forth coming INC elections.

This prompted HRM S. P. Luke, Kalanama V111, the Pere of Akugbene Mein Kingdom to commence committal proceedings through his Lawyer, Eric Omare at the Bomadi High Court against the officials of the INC acting in violation of the judgment of the Delta State High Court by serving them FORM 48. Committal proceedings are a legal process to ensure compliance with orders of court or the violator is committed to prison.

The top INC officials may be made to serve prison terms, if it is proved that they acted in violation of the orders of the Delta State High Court, Bomadi Judicial Division.