Court orders prophet to pay N200m for destroying Tompolo's Egbesu shrine

A Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State, has ordered the founder of GreatGod Holy Tabernacle, Tamarauebi Elisha Owan, to pay N200 million in damages for the unlawful destruction of a traditional Egbesu shrine linked to Niger Delta leader Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.

In a judgment delivered on June 29, 2026, Justice H.A. Nganjiwa ruled that the prophet's actions, alongside members of his congregation, were unconstitutional and violated the constitutional rights of the shrine's custodians to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.

The court also issued a mandatory injunction directing Prophet Owan and the other respondents to rebuild the Osuopele Beniseide Opu-Oru Temple, the traditional place of worship that was destroyed during the incident.

The suit stemmed from events that occurred on December 20, 2024, in Ojobo community, Delta State, when Prophet Owan and members of GreatGod Holy Tabernacle allegedly invaded the Osuopele Beniseide Opu-Oru Temple, a shrine dedicated to the Egbesu deity.

According to court records, the group carried out the invasion under the claim of "combating evil spirits," an action that reportedly caused extensive damage to the traditional worship site.

In its ruling, the court held that no individual or religious group has the legal right to destroy another person's place of worship or interfere with the constitutional rights of others based on their religious beliefs.

The judgment reinforces the constitutional protection of religious freedom in Nigeria and affirms that acts of religious intolerance or the destruction of places of worship can attract significant legal consequences.