A Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, has ordered the founder of GreatGod Holy Tabernacle, Prophet Tamarauebi Elisha Owan, to pay N200 million in damages for the unlawful destruction of a traditional Egbesu shrine where Niger Delta leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, and others serve as chief priests.
The court also directed the prophet and his co-respondents to rebuild the destroyed Osuopele Beniseide Opu-Oru Temple, describing the demolition as a violation of the constitutional rights of the worshippers.
Justice H.A. Nganjiwa delivered the judgment on June 29, 2026, condemning the actions of the prophet and members of his congregation, who allegedly destroyed the shrine during an invasion of the temple in December 2024.
According to the court, the respondents acted outside the law by attacking a recognised place of traditional worship under the claim that they were fighting evil spirits.
The judge held that the action violated the constitutional rights of the applicants to freedom of thought, conscience and religion as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Apart from awarding N200 million as damages, the court granted a mandatory injunction compelling the prophet and those involved in the destruction to reconstruct the Osuopele Beniseide Opu-Oru Temple.
The shrine is regarded as one of the important places of worship for followers of the Egbesu traditional religion in the Niger Delta.
It is also known as a spiritual centre where Tompolo, a prominent Ijaw leader and former militant commander, together with other traditional priests, performs religious duties.
The legal dispute arose from an incident that occurred on December 20, 2024, in Ojobo community in Delta State.
According to court records, Prophet Owan and members of his church allegedly stormed the shrine during what they described as a spiritual exercise aimed at combating evil spirits.
During the operation, the group allegedly destroyed parts of the traditional temple, an action that angered members of the community and worshippers of the Egbesu deity.
The destruction sparked widespread condemnation from traditional leaders and cultural organisations, who described the attack as an assault on the religious and cultural heritage of the Ijaw people.
The matter was subsequently taken to court by those behind the shrine, who argued that the destruction violated their constitutional rights and sought compensation as well as an order for the temple to be rebuilt.
After hearing the case, Justice Nganjiwa ruled in favour of the applicants.
The judge held that every Nigerian has the constitutional right to practise the religion of his or her choice without intimidation, discrimination or unlawful interference.
He stated that the Constitution protects not only the rights of followers of Christianity and Islam but also adherents of African Traditional Religion and other recognised faiths.
The court further held that no individual or religious group has the authority to destroy another person’s place of worship under the guise of religious evangelism or spiritual cleansing.
Justice Nganjiwa described the actions of the respondents as unconstitutional and unlawful.
He ruled that the destruction of the shrine amounted to an infringement of the applicants’ fundamental rights and could not be justified on religious grounds.
The award of N200 million, the court said, was intended to compensate the affected worshippers for the damage suffered and to serve as a deterrent against similar acts in the future.
The order directing the reconstruction of the shrine is also expected to restore the place of worship to its original condition.
The judgment has drawn attention to the constitutional protection of religious freedom in Nigeria, where citizens are free to practise their chosen religion without interference.
Although religious tensions involving traditional worship are relatively uncommon, there have been cases in different parts of the country where traditional shrines have been destroyed by individuals claiming to be carrying out religious activities.
Section 38 of the Nigerian Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including the freedom to change religion or belief and to manifest that religion through worship, teaching, practice and observance.
The Constitution also protects citizens from discrimination based on their religious beliefs.
The ruling is also seen as a reminder that disputes arising from religious differences should be resolved through lawful means rather than acts of violence or destruction.
Neither Prophet Owan nor representatives of Great God Holy Tabernacle had publicly reacted to the judgment as of the time of filing this report.
It also remains unclear whether the respondents will comply with the court’s order or challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.
For members of the Ojobo community and worshippers at the Osuopele Beniseide Opu-Oru Temple, the judgment marks the end of a legal battle that began after the controversial destruction of one of their revered places of worship nearly two years ago.