Court orders prophet to pay N200m for destroying Tompolo’s Egbesu shrine in Delta

A Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, has ordered Prophet Tamarauebi Elisha Owan, founder of GreatGod Holy Tabernacle, 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.

In a judgment delivered by Justice H.A. Nganjiwa on June 29, 2026, the court condemned the actions of Prophet Owan and members of his congregation, describing them as “unconstitutional” and a clear violation of the constitutional rights to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.

The court also issued a mandatory injunction directing the prophet and his co-respondents to rebuild the Osuopele Beniseide Opu-Oru Temple, the traditional place of worship destroyed during the incident.

The case arose from events of December 20, 2024, in Ojobo community, Delta State, when Prophet Owan and members of his church allegedly stormed the Osuopele Beniseide Opu-Oru Temple, a shrine dedicated to the Egbesu deity.

According to court records, the respondents carried out the invasion under the guise of “combating evil spirits”, causing extensive damage.