Thirty-Three years after his murder, the children of
late Engr. George Idah, former Oredo Local Government Council Chairman, have
dragged Mr. Osaro Idah, a chief in Benin palace to court on allegation of
doubtful “family relationship” and and have asked the Benin High Court to order
Osaro Idah to submit himself for Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) paternity test to
help determine his biological father.
According to the Court documents obtained by Midwest
Herald, Mr. Mark Idah and Mr. Omoruyi Idah, filed the case on behalf of
themselves and other children of their late father, Engr. George Idah, who was
murdered in Benin City while serving as Oredo Council Chairman.
The defendant Mr. Osaro Idah, who is a Benin Palace
chief and a front line People’s Democratic Party leader, served former Governor
Godwin Obaseki as Political Adviser is being challenged by the late Idah
children over his alleged claim to the late Idah properties.
In their claims, they explained that during the burial
of Engr. George Idah, the Defendant (Osaro Idah) was not called as custom
demands to perform the traditional rites, which the 1st surviving male child of
a deceased male usually perform in a burial ceremony of a deceased male under
Benin native law and custom, that fact the Defendant did not participate in the
burial. They added that it was the 1st Claimant (Mark Idah) that performed all
the burial rites as the 1st son.
They told the court that, before their late dad
travelled to the United Kingdom for studies that the Defendant’s mother—Ayo,
once came to him to inform him that she was pregnant for him. But their father
was not certain if he was the one that impregnated Osaro’s mother.
He demanded for a DNA test at the family shrine and
swear to an oath as tradition demand and which is still the traditional mode of
conducting a DNA test on a Benin child whose paternity is in doubt, but Ayo
refused.
The suit marked B/233/2025, the plaintiffs, Mark Idah
and Omoruyi Idah, have filed the case on behalf of themselves and other
children of the late politician.
The surviving children contend that their father had
eight children from three wives and the defendant -Osaro Idah is not one of
them, and did not have a “legally customarily recognized relationship” with
their late father during his lifetime, alleging that there was no acknowledged
paternity or formal familial ties established under Benin native law and custom
before their father was tragically killed in 1992.
The plaintiffs are therefore asking the court to make
declaration that, based on customary practices and the absence of paternity
confirmation during the lifetime of Engineer George Idah, the defendant, Osaro
Idah is not entitled to parade himself as a legal heir or claim a share of the
estate until his paternity is confirmed through DNA.
They have also asked for an order directing the
defendant to undergo a DNA test or any scientifically valid method to confirm
his biological ties to the late Engr. George Idah.
In addition, Mark, Omoruyi and others have asked for
an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant, Osaro from
presenting himself as the first son of the late Engr. George Idah or
interfering with the estate until his paternity is determined.
The Plaintiffs Statement of Claim reads in part:
“The Claimants are suing on behalf of themselves and
the entire children of late Engineer George Idah who died intestate on the 22nd
day of February, 1992 in Benin City.
“The Claimants aver that they are the recognized
children of late Engr. George Idah under Benin Native Law and Custom.
“The Defendant is not one of them. Engr. George Idah
had eight children during his life time—namely:
“Ms Rowettea Idah who was born on the 5th day of
January, 1966; Mr. Mark Igbinovia Idah who was born on the 10th day of
September, 1972; Osarunmwense Idah (deceased) who was born on the 22nd day of
February, 1975; Omoruyi Idah who was born on the 20th day of June, 1975; Eghosa
ldah who was born on the 11th day of November, 1976; and Eduwu Idah, born on
the 24th day of February, 1978; Uyi Idah who was born on the 17th day of
October, 1979; and Isiuwa Idah who was born on the 19th day of February 1982.
“He had Ms Rowettea Idah while he was undergoing his
study abroad at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom. At that
time, he was just in his twenties. Her mother was Miss Lite. He had the rest
children on his return from abroad.
“It was Mrs. Virginia Idah and Ms. Anastasia Eyo Nsa
that had them for him.
“Before Engr. George Idah travelled to the United
Kingdom for his tertiary education, Defendant’s mother by name Ayo once came to
him to inform him that she was
pregnant for him.
“As Engr. George Idah was not certain if he was truly
the one that impregnated her, he asked her to go before the family shrine and
swear to an oath as tradition demand and which is the traditional mode of
conducting a DNA test on a child whose paternity is in doubt in Benin, but she
refused despite numerous entreaties.
“As a result of her refusal, Engr. George Idah refused
to accept the Defendant as his son even before he was born; and when he was
born, he did not participate in naming him during his traditional naming
ceremony. In fact, he was not the one who gave him the name Osaro as a father
would do for his child and this, he clearly made known to his family while he
was alive.
“The Defendant was never part of Engr. George Idah
during his lifetime. He never introduce him to his nuclear family and never
brought him to his house any day.
“None of the children of George Idah knew the
Defendant as their brother while their father was alive.
“During the burial of Engr. George Idah, the Defendant
was not called as custom demands to perform the traditional rites, the 1st
surviving male child of a deceased male usually perform in a burial ceremony of
a deceased male under Benin native law and custom. In fact the Defendant did
not participate in the burial. It was the 1st Claimant that performed all the
burial rites as the 1st son.
“The Claimant aver that few years after the death of
George Idah, the Defendant emerged from nowhere and started laying claim to
Engr. George Idah’s estate with force. He used hired thugs to attack most of
the members of Idah’s family. He specifically singled out Mr. Sam Idah who
insisted that his brother’s declaration must be respected by the Idah’s family.
“The Claimants aver that for the past 33 years when
their father died, the Defendant has made life so unbearable for them. He uses
his influence in government to constantly intimidate and harasses the children
of Idah.
“He forcibly seized the house where Engr. George Idah
lived from them and at the moment is laying claim to it as his inheritance.”
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