A Delta State High Court sitting in Bomadi has ruled that Egrangbene, an Ijaw community in Burutu Local Government Area (LGA), is “autonomous, distinct and separate” from others in the council area, including Oporomor clan/kingdom.
Justice S. O. Adolor gave the judgment in Suit No: HCB/16/202.
Parts of the judgment read thus: “Flowing from the above, the case of the claimants succeeds in part, I therefore hold as follows; a declaration that Egrangbene Community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State is an autonomous community, distinct and separate from all other Communities in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, including Oporomor Clan/Kingdom.
“Relief two and three of the claimants is refused, the same having not been proved. Relief two and three are , therefore, struck out”.
The claimants, Chief Etare Lucky Yoweibo, Mr. Globemi Allele, Chief Oboye, Omonibeke, and others, had on behalf of the people of Egrangbene Federated Communities through their lawyers, Chinyere C. Ndoala and Mr. Owen Nanakumoh, prayed the court to declare Egrangbene community as an autonomous community.