Court Only Restrained me, I Didn’t Forge Documents or Falsify Age – Embattled Delta PG

The embattled President-General (PG) of Okpare-Olomu Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, Mr. Maxwell Otoka Okiemute, has denied allegations that he forged documents or falsified his age to become the community leader.

Okiemute said reports circulating on social media that he was removed from office for alleged document forgery were untrue.

He explained that the ruling of the Delta State High Court sitting in Otu-Jeremi only restrained him from parading himself as President-General and ordered that a fresh election into the community leadership be conducted within two months.

“I didn’t falsify any document. I didn’t falsify my age,” Okiemute stated.
According to him, the court only held that he was not up to 45 years of age at the time the election was conducted.

“The court only says I was not up to 45 years as at the time of the election,” he said.

Okiemute further noted that the judgment did not direct that the claimant in the suit should take over the leadership of the community.

“The court didn’t direct me to hand over to anybody,” he added, noting that he was comfortable with the ruling.
He, however, faulted the court’s jurisdiction on the matter, arguing that under Delta State law, the Magistrate Court—not the High Court—has jurisdiction over such disputes.

“The High Court has no jurisdiction. It is the Magistrate Court that should handle such matters under Delta State law. The judge undermined the jurisdiction and the plaintiff did not have the locus standi to bring the matter before the court,” he said.

The community leader also disclosed that he has filed for a stay of execution of the judgment at the Court of Appeal.

Meanwhile, social media reports had claimed that the Delta State High Court sitting in Otu-Jeremi sacked Okiemute as President-General of Okpare-Olomu Community for allegedly forging documents and falsifying his age to secure the position—an allegation he has strongly denied.

As of the time of filing this report, residents and indigenes of Okpare-Olomu Community were said to be celebrating the court’s decision restraining Okiemute from parading himself as President-General of the community.