A Bayelsa High Court in Nembe has declared the order by chairman of Okoroba community Council of Chiefs, Chief Benjamin Puyatei and the acting chief priest of Ogidiga shrine, Chief Joseph Ndubueze forcing 442 natives, mainly Christians, to partake in Eyalikai festival and worship of Ogidiga deity as unlawfull.
The court was presided by Justice L. M. Boufini and ruled that the compulsion of natives to participate in Eyalkai festival and the worship of the deity of Ogidiga definately goes against the constitution.
He cited Sections 34 and 38 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2011, as amended, and Article 5 of the African Charter of Human and Peoples Ratification and Enforcement act
The Justice also restrained the respondents from further disruption of the propagation of the teaching of Christian religion, by prayers, crusaders, open air preaching, sharing of tracts and Bibles and other Christian gatherings.
The case was brought to court by twelve christians led by Mr. Hitler Adumom, Apostle Jeremiah Youpele, Prophet Elijah Omu, Elder Nathan Diegha, and eight others who were against intimidation, harassment and compulsion to make sacrifices to appease the gods and participate in the Eyalikai festival by chairman of the Okoroba Council of Chiefs, Secretary of the Council of Chiefs, chairman of the Community Development Committee, CDC, and the chief priest.
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