Family Alleges Delta High Court Judge Of Bias In Property Dispute

The Omodunni family of Ugbo-nla, in Ilaje local government Area of Ondo State has accused a Delta State High Court Judge, Justice Roli Diabo Harriman, of compromise and bias in a property dispute, pending before her Court.
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‎The family had through their Defence Counsels, S O Bobi and Ejiro Etaghene Esq approached the Court over a property situated at 14, Enikogho street in Ugborikoko, Uvwie local government of Delta State.
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‎Worried by the way the Judge was handing the dispute, which is evident in certain decisions of the Court that are not intandem with basic principles of lagal practice and procedures, the family through their representatives, Mrs Abooluwa Famakinwa and Mr Beniah Jibowu Omodunni asked the Delta State Chief Judge, Justice ‎Theresa T. Obiajulu Ogochukwu , to transfer the case from Justice Harriman.
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‎The family had earlier petitioned the Chief Judge ,through their family lawyer, Daniel Ogungbemi that the case be transferred from Justice RD Harriman over allegation of bias against members of the family.
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‎Despite the plea to the Delta State Chief Judge and Appeal of her rulings to the Appeal Court, the judge insisted on proceeding with the suit, fueling suspicion of bias and compromise by the family.

The family then petitioned the National Judicial Council ( NJC) over the unethical decisions of the Court, harassment and intimidation of family members and their Counsels.
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‎In the petition dated May 29, 2026 , the family asked the Chief Judge of Delta State to direct Justice Harriman to hands off the case over allegation of bias and compromise.
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‎The petition titled “Request for transfer of Suit No: EHC/194/2024: Mr Olabode Tony Omodun vs Mrs Mosunmola Omodun-Arobo and others, from the Court of Hon Justice Roli Diabo Harriman”,

It said the petition became necessary because of the way the judge was handling the suit.
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‎It said ” the request became necessary owing to the unfortunate circumstances and developments surrounding the handling of the matter before the said Court, right from inception, which developments have created serious fear and apprehension among members of our family and the 5th Defendant, regarding the possibility of obtaining fair and impartial treatment with regard to the justice of the matter”

It added ” Your Lordship, members of our family had been repeatedly subjected to threats of detention and intimidation in the course of proceedings before the said Court. For instance, on 13th May, 2025, his Lordship docked the 5th Defendant in the suit and ordered the arrest of the 1st Defendant. It took the intervention of the then Counsel to the Defendants, S.O Bobi, Esq, for the 5th Defendant to be discharged from the Dock while the 1st Defendant (an Elderly woman) was ” pardoned” after kneeling down on the floor of the open court to beg the judge”

According to the petition, ” The situation became more disturbing on 15th of April 2026 when one of our family member, by name, Mr Taiwo Omodunni, who is not a party in the suit but merely appeared before the court to plead for amicable out of court settlement for the family dispute, was ordered to be detained, handcuffed and kept within the Court premises while proceedings were on going and thereafter ordered to be detained at the Effurun Divisional Police Headquarters, Ekpan, until he signed an undertaking to produce the Defendants in Court on the next adjourned date, which happened to be 15th of May 2026. Our aforesaid member was only left off the hook after he had been thoroughly humiliated and forced to sign the aforementioned undertaking at the police station “

It further added “our family gathered that the Defendants’ purported action(s) which allegedly angered Honourable Justice Roli Diabo Harriman had to do with certain orders she made against the Defendants on 15th of May 2025, without hearing from their then Counsel, S.O Bobi Esq, after hearing only from the Claimant’s Counsel. The said Orders were/are to the effect that:

I. The Defendants are restrained to get to the said property, 5 metres radius.
ii. The Defendants pay twenty Million Naira deposit used by the 5th Defendant to buy the property in dispute, into the Court account within 48 hours.
iii. The Baillif of Court should sell property, the subject matter of the Case and the only Claimant should have access to the said property.

“We respectfully state that the Defendants have already filed a Motion for stay of Execution/Proceedings against the Orders, over which the threat and intimidation are allegedly being made vide Appeal No CA/AS/217/2025.”
” No doubt the aforementioned actions of his Lordship constrained us to petition her to the National Judicial Commission (NJC) vide a letter dated 6th May 2026. Find attached herewith and marked as Annexture “A” is a copy of our said letter to the National Judicial Council”

” Your Lordship, following the Petition submitted by our family to the National Judicial Council concerning the above developments, we received a response/advice from the Council vide a letter dated 12th May 2026, wherein we were advised to approach your office for appropriate intervention regarding the matter. Find attached herewith and marked as Annexture “B”. We had earlier on, written to your humble self through our family Lawyer Daniel Ogungbemi and & Co, vide a letter dated 8th July 2025 ,for a transfer of the Case from Justice Roli Diabo Harriman, the moment we noticed she had vested interest in the Case and is compromised, but we received no response “

“In compliance with the said advice of the National Judicial Council as contained in the aforementioned letter, we hereby respectfully approach Your Lordship and pray for the transfer of the said Suit from the Court of Hon. Justice Roli Diabo Harriman to another Court of coordinate jurisdiction, in the interest of Justice, Fairness, Peace and public confidence in the Judicial process.

” Your Lordship, this dispute is essentially a family matter and tension has greatly escalated due to the developments in Court. Members of our family now attend Proceedings in fear and anxiety. Following these developments, there is threat to the lives of the Defendants. We sincerely believe that transferring the Case to another Judge would help restore confidence and assure all parties of fair hearing in the matter”.

” We Make this request with utmost respect to the Judiciary and without any intention whatsoever to scandalize the Court or undermine Judicial authority”.
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