A Federal High Court sitting in Warri has awarded ₦205 million in damages against Prophet Tamarauebi Elisha Owan and members of his Greatgod Holy Tabernacle, following the destruction of a traditional shrine belonging to the Osuopele Beniseide Temple in Ojobo Community, Delta State.
The court found that Owan and his congregation unlawfully invaded the Osuopele Beniseide Opu-Oru Temple on December 20, 2024, under the guise of casting out evil spirits, in the process destroying the worship house and a number of historical artifacts belonging to the Egbesu-worshipping community. The matter was reported to the Chairman of the Izon Cultural Heritage Council (ICHC) and the Apostle of the Woyin Temple in Yenagoa, prompting an investigation and the eventual lawsuit against the prophet and his followers.
Delivering judgment on June 29, 2026, the court declared that the harassment of the applicant and worshippers of the Osuopele Beniseide Opu-Oru Temple deities by the 1st to 9th respondents was discriminatory, unconstitutional and a breach of Sections 10 and 38 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as well as a violation of the applicant’s fundamental rights. The court also issued a restraining order barring the respondents from further harassing or intimidating the applicant and worshippers, and directed them to stay at least 10 kilometres away from the temple and its adherents.
In addition, the court ordered the respondents to rebuild the destroyed temple and to jointly and severally pay:
- ₦100,000,000 as exemplary damages for the unlawful destruction of the temple;
- ₦100,000,000 as general damages for the destruction and the humiliation suffered by the applicant, its worshippers and believers;
- ₦5,000,000 as the cost of filing the suit.
The respondents were further ordered to publish a public apology in two national daily newspapers.Reacting to the judgment, the Spokesperson of the ICHC, Odede Precious, described it as a correction of “an age-long injustice,” and urged the prophet and his members to comply. He also warned others against the intimidation and persecution of traditional worshippers.
