The Leaderships of the Olodi, Oki and Ighogbadu kingdred families of Okere Urhobo Kingdom in Warri, Delta State  have unequivocally rejected what they described as the purported criminal and unlawful swearing-in of new executives (Excos) of Olodi, Oki and lghogbadu Kindred Families Management Committee, which they said is illegally backed by the head of the Ighogbadu Family PA lsaac Abilemiren Mayomi Eraivor and Chief Gideon Okumagba.

Prince Chief Churchill Oki and Pa Karien Osagbuwa Eboh, the two Heads of Oki and Olodi families who spoke on behalf of  the three Kindred Families in their separate  statements  distanced themselves and disowned the recent letter circulated  to all tenants through the directives of Apostle Isaac Abilemiren Mayomi and Chief Gideon Okumagba as they directed all tenants to remain calm and go about their lawful businesses without any fear of intimidation.

Prince Chief Churchill Oki ,the Head of the Oki Family in his speech made it clear that the Board of Trustees BoT
members are not  aware and he is not in support of the dictatorial actions of Pa Isaac A M Eraivor and Gideon Okumagba who are bringing gangsterism into the Family to cause chaos.

Pa  Karien Osagbuwa Eboh , the Head of the Olodi Family who corroboted the the testimony of  Prince Chiéf  Chuchill Oki said: “Pa Isaac AM Eraivor and Gideon Okumagba attempting  to bring in fake Exco into our well organized  Family Management Committee is indeed regrettable, l advised  that both of  them should repent and retrace their steps to  work in conformity with our laid down rules well articulated by the Board of Trustees (BOT) working instrument.”

Evang Chief  Emmanuel Eboh,  Prince Charles Olodi, Chiéf Victor Okumagba and others who also spoke in during the media interactive session their various contributions  concurred that Pa Isaac AM Eraivor at  the age of 99 years  should not be the one coming to break family rules and going to the extent of  attempting to overthrow a legitimately constituted Exco.

Collectively, in their well laced speeches, they urged the Government and good people of Delta State, the tenants in the Estate and Layout and the general public to disregard the so called EXCO led by one  Mike Ohwoyovwe Okumagba and continue to deal   with the Family through it’s legitimate office at number 56 Okumagba Avenue Warri under the Chairmanship of  Mr Stanley Oki, Mr Moses Karien and Mr Henry Obire as Secretary and Auditor respectively.

They maintained  that the aforementioned persons  remains  the only and authentic Exco known to law and recognized by the collective leadership of the Olodi, Oki and lghogbadu Three Kindred Family.

A Press Release signed and read  by the Chairman of the Management Committee of  the Olodi, Oki and Ighogbadu  Families, Mr Stanley Oki, made available to Daily Independent Newspaper  reads in part :

 “Some weeks ago, precisely on the 17th of May 2023, the Head of the  Igbogbadu Family, one of the branches of the three Kindreds  of  the  Olodi, Oki and Ighogbadu Families, Apostle Isaac  A. M. Eraivor  and  Gideonn Okumagba orchestrated a false petition against me and my  Executives.”

Mr Stanley Oki, the Families Management Committee Chair explained during the Media briefing that the main  purpose of the illmotivated arrest was targeted  to take  them (Exco) out of circulation to enable Pa  lsaac Eraivor and Gideon Okumagba hatch their plan to illegally take over the family office by force. 

Speaking further, The Management Committee Chair  said: “On that same day, being  17th of May 2023 the Policemen from Zone 5, Benin City came and arrested my Secretary, Mr  Moses Karien and the Auditor, Mr. Henry Obire, immediately after the  arrest, Apostle L.A.M. Eraivor  came swiftly and locked the family office with his own keys , meanwhile , instead of the Police to take the suspects to Benin Station that same day , they decided to dump my two Exco members at Ughelli Police Station where no of us  thought about, since the Police came from Zone 5.”

The Statement continued: “On the 18th of May 2023, which was the following day after the unwaranted arrest, l consulted  the family elders, particularly the Heads  of Olodi and Oki families, Pa Daniel Osagbuwa Karien and Prince Chief Churchill Oki, JP, they expressed rude chock  and  disappointment over  the  rebelious attitude of both, Pa Eraivor and Gideon Okumagba, before we headed to Benin  with our own team of lawyers to meet with the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG).”

He added saying: “After our meeting with the Assistant Inspector General of  Police , the AIG ordered the immediate release of Moses Karien and Henry Obire wherever they were at that particular time, accordingly, in obedience to the AIG directives, Moses  Karien and Henry Obire were released by the Police at Effurun Roundabout.”

With a resolute firmness, Mr Stanley Oki further said:. “The AIG who was determed to broker a truce in the interest of peace, asked  all parties involved in the matter to appear  before him in Benin, we all went except the black horse Pa  Eraivor, the merchant of falsehood , but to God be the glory, after a careful look at the facts of the matter, AIG  anchored his division on two grounds.”

He said: “The Police boss said since the matter of my tenureship is pending in Court, we need to maintain statusquo, secondly he asserted that Apostle lAM Eraivor have no constitutional power to unilaterally constitute and swear-in Executives of Olodi, Oki and lghogbadu kindred Families Management Committee without the two other Heads and the Board of Trustees approval.”

Continuing, Mr Stanley Oki,  added: “The AIG  ordered  that the lawful EXCO headed by my hunble self Mr Stanley Oki should go home and resume our duties, adding that Gideon Okumagba, the co-traveller of Pa Eraivor should be made to write a statement under caution to produce the boys they used in carrying out the illegal and unlawful  overthrow.

He further remarked saying: 
“l wish to make it abundantly clear that our tenure has not expired and nobody has been appointed by the family to take over from us. The present Executives of the Management Committee has a tenure , and our tenure is still counting as affirmed by the AIG and our family working instruments.”

He stressed with emphasis saying that “The family Land register, Ledger book,one Lap top, one lphone, unspecified amount of cash, family receipt books and the key to the family SiennaVehicle that were carthed away during the Kangaroo overthrow,
Apostle IAM Eraivor returned only the Ledger book through Mike Ohwoyovwe Okumagba while the other items listed above are still with them.”

He explained that the issue of tenureship of the present Management Committee is a  subject of litigation in Warri High Court in Suit No. W / 110 / 2023 and Apostle I.A.M Eraivor is not the authority of Olodi, Oki and Ighogbadu families, he is only the head of one of the branches of the three families and therefore has no right whatsoever to unilaterally dissolve and appoint new executive of the management committee of Olodi, Oki and Ighogbadu kindred families, only the Board of Trustees (BOT) has the power to constitute and approve management committee in line with section 3 (a) and (b) of the family instrument.”

Mr Stanley Oki pointed out that the criminal and illegal act of Apostle I.A.M. Eraivor and Gideon Okumagba has been reported to the Nigeria Police for thorough investigation and appropriate action in the spirit of fairness equity and justice.

Sheding more light on the current state of affairs on the  issue during the media parley  on a conclusive note, Mr Stanley Oki said: “ln avoidance of any doubt, we called this Press Conference to abreast all relevant stakeholders across board, particularly the Government and good people of Delta State, our tenants and the general public to be apprised and to note that the  following persons, Mr Stanley Oki, Mr  Moses Karien and Mr. Henry Obire are still the lawful Chairman, Secretary and Auditor of Olodi, Oki and Ighogbadu kindred familles Management Committee respectively.”

Mr Stanley Oki who urged all Okumagba Estate and Layout residents to go about their normal businesses without any fear of intimidation also advised all tenants to kindly pay their rents to the approved Family First Bank Account only, as any payment to the contrary will be considered as void payment.

According to Mr Stanley Oki, he will continue to consult and collaborate to route for a permanent and a genuine reconciliation in Olodi, Oki and Ighogbadu Kindred Families and Okere-Urhobo Kingdom, Warri, he concluded.

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