BY ROTIMI DUROJAIYE Durojaiye
There is another round of tension in Warri, Delta State, as the dethroned Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom, Ayiri Emami, has been accused of stealing two royal crowns valued at N2bn.
The renowned billionaire businessman was on Wednesday arraigned by the police before a Warri South Chief Magistrates’ Court in case No: CR630/2021.
Emami, an ally of former Governor James Ibori, was slammed with three counts of conspiracy, burglary and stealing.
The offences, according to the police prosecutor, are punishable under sections 411, 516 and 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Cap C21 Vol. 1, Laws of Delta State, 2006.
When the prosecutor read the charges to him, Emami pleaded not guilty.
According to the charges, Emami allegedly conspired with others now at large to break into the palace of the Olu of Warri to steal two royal crowns valued at N2 billion, being property of the Itsekiri Kingdom.
Emami and his accomplices allegedly committed the offence on March 30, 2021 around 11.30pm.
The lead counsel for the accused, Emmanuel Uti, urged the court to grant his client bail, noting that he was willing and ready to appear in court any time he was called upon to do so.
The police prosecutor, Superintendent of Police, Sunday Irabor, stated that the discretion of granting bail was that of the court, but appealed for stringent bail conditions and reliable sureties.
The Olu of Warri Palace was represented by Fabius Atie, during the proceedings.
After listening to the parties, Chief Magistrate, Ejiro Diejomaoh, granted the accused bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties.
“The sureties must be at Grade Level 15 in the civil service; they must provide their passports and body photographs as well as national means of identification,” the Chief Magistrate ruled.
The case was then adjourned till January 19, 2022 for further hearing.
However, Emami has blamed some prominent Itsekiri chiefs for his travail.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the court session, he stated that his arraignment would not stop him from pursuing cases he had instituted in various courts challenging the selection and emergence of Ogiame Atuwatse lll as the Olu of Warri.
Emami vowed to pursue the cases to a logical conclusion to clear his name in the case of invasion of the palace and theft of the royal crowns.
He has also called on the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged invasion and missing royal crowns belonging to the Warri Kingdom.
Emami also insisted and denied his alleged involvement in the invasion of the palace and the stealing of the two royal crowns.
In a statement following viral media reports alleging his involvement in the invasion of the palace and stealing of the royal Itsekiri crowns, he demanded an independent investigation into the incident.
He said though he has refrained from commenting on the case which is in court, it is imperative for him to clear his name over some publications linking him with the alleged invasion and theft.
While describing the allegations levelled against him as mere falsehood, Emami insisted that he remains the Ologbotsere of Warri.
He further stated that the Assistant Inspector General of Police Zone 5, Benin City, acted as a collaborator by not carrying out a proper investigation of the matter.
“Actually, I don’t want to speak on this matter because the case is in court. But my family and associates have urged me to speak out because of some sponsored publications where it was alleged that I was arraigned for breaking into the Olu’s palace and stealing a crown. I know nothing about the stolen crown or any other allegations they have made,” he said.
Irrespective of whether the case is in court or not, Emami urged the Inspector General of Police to carry out a proper investigation on the matter and let anyone involved in the case be brought to book, adding: “On my part, I am also ready to pursue it to a logical conclusion.”
According to him, “I don’t believe in the investigation carried out by the police in Benin. The AIG in Benin is a collaborator. He did not do a thorough investigation on this matter at all. He appears to be acting a script. The Commissioner of Police in Delta State and the Area Commander know that they lay siege to the palace for almost two weeks. What is happening is an embarrassment to Nigeria, the Itsekiri nation and the police.
“I’m glad they used the word ‘alleged’. As far as I am concerned, it is an unfounded allegation. Everyone, including the police that took me to court knows that I knew nothing about the invasion of the palace. Those that laid siege to the palace and moved out valuables, including other things I don’t want to mention are the same people running to the police and making all sorts of allegations. It is left for them to prove whether I have a hand about the stolen crown.
“I don’t believe in the investigation carried out by the police in Benin. The AIG in Benin is a collaborator. He did not do a thorough investigation on this matter at all. He appears to be acting a script
“
“To me, it is a very shameful thing to do because our crown is highly revered and prestigious. For us Itsekiris, that crown is the only thing we have. No reasonable man can just wake up and say that he has bought his own crown. If I were them, if truly the crown was stolen, I will ensure I get the crown before my coronation as long as they don’t have any hidden agenda,” he said.
The arraignment of Emami has further deepened the feud between him and the new Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III.
Atuwatse had wielded his royal axe on October 5, 2021. It landed on the neck of Emami as the monarch stripped him of his Ologbotsere (Prime Minister) title.
An extension of this judgement was that the Olu’s Palace invited the Ologbotsere family and instructed the members “never to address Emami as Ologbotsere anymore.”
In order not to create a vacuum, Pa. Higson Ajofotan Oporokun, the Olori-Ebi of the Ologbotsere family was empowered to superintend over all activities of members henceforth.
Before then, the Ologbosere had been on suspension and not a few in Warri and outside believed that it was a matter of time that the Olu would wield his royal axe against the kingdom’s prime minister.
Emami’s sins were two. First, he reportedly tore into shreds the nomination paper (of Emiko) presented to him by the kingmakers. This was considered a great affront to the kingmakers and Emiko himself who kept his anger to himself.
Secondly, Emami, to prove that he was not mad when he tore the nomination paper, headed for the court to challenge the May 27, 2021 press conference announcement of the date of installation of Emiko as the next Olu.
That announcement was made by the Iyatsere of Warri Kingdom and acting Chairman of the Olu’s Advisory Council, Chief Johnson Amatserunleghe.
The Iyatsere told journalists that the formal proclamation of Emiko as the successor to the throne was made at Ode-Itsekiri on April 5, 2021, the same day the passage of his predecessor, Ogiame Ikenwoli, was announced.
According to Iyatsere, Emiko’s emergence came “after a rigorous process, which included a painstaking search within and among the descendants of the last three Olus as required by tradition, custom and extant laws.”
Emami, the Ologbosere, would have none of that, as he headed for a Warri High Court, seeking legal interpretation of the amended 1979 Olu of Warri Chieftaincy Edict which says that the Olu must have Benin and Warri blood flowing in him. Emiko’s mother is Yoruba: Olori Gladys Emiko (wife of Olu Atuwatse II, Emiko’s father).
Emami sought the court’s order of an interlocutory injunction to “restrain the defendants either by themselves, agents, privies and/or whomsoever from crowning any person as the Olu of Warri Kingdom, pending the hearing and determination of the suit.
The Ologbotsere wanted “an order restraining the defendants either by themselves, agents, privies and (or) by whomsoever from using anybody, particularly the third defendant (Iyatsere) or the Uwangue or any other traditional chief of Warri Kingdom to crown any person as the Olu of Warri Kingdom against the provision of the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Edict of 1979, pending the hearing and determination of this suit”.
He was also seeking the court to “upturn the purported suspension of Ologbotsere as the Chairman, Olu Advisory Council and Traditional Council of Chiefs by the Ginuwa I Ruling House.”
