The Benin Writers’ Society (BWS) stands today in a spirit of reflection and renewed hope as we join the many voices rejoicing over the recent ruling of the Edo State High Court in Benin City, which struck out the charge against our very own founder and visionary leader, Barrister Douglas Ogbankwa Esq.
For eighteen long months, Barrister Ogbankwa, our brother in the pen and the law, walked through a season heavy with shadows, facing allegations that many in our community believed were as political as they were unjust. It was a journey marked by anxiety, sacrifice, and a determined faith in the fairness of the judicial process.
With the filing of a nolle prosequi by the Attorney General of Edo State, Hon. Samson Raphael Osagie, and the decisive ruling by Hon. Justice Helen Ogbevoen, that journey has now reached its rightful end. The matter has been struck out, and justice has prevailed.
This case is more than a legal victory; it is a powerful testament to the resilience of truth and the enduring power of hope. Too often, the wheels of justice may seem to turn at an agonisingly slow pace. Yet this moment reminds us all: lawyers, writers, and citizens, that though delayed, the wheel never stops turning, and when it does arrive, it grinds in favour of the upright.
As writers, we understand the weight of words and the power of stories. Barrister Ogbankwa’s story of perseverance through this trial has now become an emblem of courage: a reminder that one’s integrity can withstand the harshest winds when anchored in truth. His words, “I have been vindicated,” ring out not only as a personal triumph but as a rallying cry for every citizen who believes that justice, though delayed, cannot be denied forever.
The decision also stands as a warning to all who may attempt to twist the course of justice for political gains: no government, no individual, and no season of power can bend the arc of justice without it eventually straightening itself.
To our fellow Edo sons and daughters who sometimes feel lost in the maze of injustice, let this victory rekindle your faith in the courts, the Constitution, and in the promise that fairness still dwells in our land. Justice may seem distant at times, but as long as truth exists, vindication is always possible.
On behalf of the Benin Writers’ Society, we extend our warmest congratulations to Barrister Douglas Ogbankwa Esq. Founder of the Benin Writers’ Society, on this well-deserved vindication. Your courage through this storm reminds us why you have always been a torchbearer of justice and the arts in our community.
We also commend the Hon. Attorney General of Edo State for allowing reason to prevail and Hon. Justice Helen Ogbevoen for upholding the dignity and fairness of the judiciary.
In the heart of Edo, where culture and wisdom flow like the River Ikpoba, we are reminded once more that justice is not a fleeting ideal but a living promise. Today, that promise has been fulfilled.
As the elders say, “when the child and the elder go before the shrine, both will meet the same justice”. Today, the gavel has reminded us that truth always finds its voice.
Princess Diana Eweka
Vice President, Benin Writers’ Society
Events and External Affairs
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