Court bans Ai-Ochidu, Ai-Nwaba families from producing Och’Owukpa

A Benue State High Court has banned Ai-Ochidu and Ai-Nwaba families from contesting the Och’Owukpa traditional stool.

Och’Owukpa is the traditional head of Owukpa people, descendant of Amuche Onomo.

According to the verdict, the position of Traditional Ruler or District Head of Owukpa, otherwise called Och’Owukpa or Onomo of Owukpa, shall rotate on the basis of 6 subunits namely Ai-Ogwuchekwo, Ai-Okpe, Ai-Agada, Ai-Agbogiri, Ai-Amuche and Ai-Oko.

With the develomnt, it is forbidden to use Ehaje and Itabono as a basis for rotation.

Ai-Nwaba being descendants of Okpe are not allowed to participate in any rotation at the level of Owukpa but within Ai-Okpe whenever it is the turn of Ai-Okpe.

Ai-Okpe has produced 2 Traditional Rulers of Owukpa in the past and are no longer eligible to present any candidate until each of Ai-Ogwuchekwo, Ai-Agada, Ai-Agbogiri, Ai-Amuche and Ai-Oko have produced 2 Traditional Rulers of Owukpa.

Ai-Ochidu are not indigenes of Owukpa by descent and therefore not eligible to produce Traditional Ruler or District Head of Owukpa.

The affairs of Owukpa are to be organised or arranged on the basis of 6 subunits of Ai-Ogwuchekwo, Ai-Okpe, Ai-Agada, Ai-Agbogiri, Ai-Amuche and Ai-Oko.

ODA national and all branches should take note and comply appropriately.

The affairs of Itabono are to be organised and arranged on the basis of 2 subunits of Ai-Ogwuchekwo and Ai-Okpe.

Itabono national and all branches should take note and comply appropriately.

The claims by Ai-Okpe that Ai-Ogwuchekwo, Ai-Agbogiri, Ai-Amuche and Ai-Oko are not from Owukpa were dismissed by the court.