A legal suit has been instituted against two traditional rulers, HRM, Chief Bourdillon A.E. Oko, Chief Ibinabo T.H. Kaluoriye, the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), Chief (Barr) Godson G.E. Opueze, and others over misappropriation of funds meant for the development of Belema community in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, Chief Tamunoemi O. Felix, Chief Fyneland G.K.S. Ojuka, Mr. Odieari Goodhead and others in Suit No PHC/1456/2013 alleged that the two royal fathers in the time past received on behalf of the Oko Royal House, several millions of naira from shell and appropriated same to their respective individual or personal use, without giving any account.
The claimants through their counsel, M. F. Awara prayed the court to declare that all funds paid to the two royal fathers Chief Bourdillon Oko and Chief Ibinabo Kaluaoriye and “their purported unidentified groups following consent judgment in Suit PHC/1963/99, by SPDC belong to the Oko Royal House.
The counsel argued that both the Ekine sub-family of Oko Royal Houae and the Kalaoriye family of Kula are not parties in the said verdict in Suit No. PHC/1963/99, recalled that as at the time of instituting that suit, the two royal fathers were sued not in their personal capacity, but as representatives of the Oko Royal House of Kula.
The claimants pleaded with the court to order that only the Oko Royal House and the 7th defendant Opueze War Canoe House could share the compensation payable in respect of the Belema Field Logistic Base (FLB) Land Acquisition compensation at the ration of 2/3 to them (Oko Royal House) and 1/3 to the Opueze War Canoe House.
The counsel further prayed the court to restrain SPDC or any of its agents from releasing or paying any money, “sum of money in any currency, belonging to the Oko Royal House to the two traditional rulers. ####
