After over 22 years of legal battle, a Benin High Court has directed that Alhaji Aliru Momoh Ikelebe III, the Otaru of Auchi, should vacate the premises he currently occupies as his palace.
Declaring the monarch as an illegal occupant of the property, the court ruled that Orbit Building society Limited is the rightful owner of the property.
The Otaru was also ordered to pay N10million as damages to Orbit Building society Limited.
Justice Esohe Ikponmwen who granted the claimant the right to take full possession of the property as the rightful owner, stressed that the company acquired the said property in 1993, adding that since the second defendant has no tie with the property he should vacate the propertywithin 31 days.
Orbit Building Society had in 1997 filed a suit against the Otaru of Auchi asking that he quit the property which is located at old Government Reservation Area, Auchi Estako West LGA, Auchi.
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It was gathered that the property, which was then known as Bendel Hotel was bought by the claimant from Edo State government in 1993 with an agreement to continue to keep the hotel running and provide employment opportunity for the community. But the Otaru illegally took it over and built his palace on it.
For Ikoghode Julius, the Managing Director Orbit Building Society Limited, it was a dream come true, pointing out he had on several occasions confronted the royal father on his decision to move his Palace into the property in 1993, adding that after waiting for five years, he decided to seek redress in the court.
According to him, Edo State government told me that “I should use whatever means available to recover my property and I am happy that the court has given me my property back after twenty-two years.”