Human rights activist, writer and legal practitioner, Douglas Ogbankwa, Esq., has formally discontinued the civil action he instituted against the Edo State Government, the Attorney-General of Edo State and the Commissioner of Police over an allegation which he said questioned his qualification and professional standing as a lawyer.
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A Notice of Discontinuance dated July 17, 2026, and filed before the High Court of Edo State, Benin Judicial Division, stated that Ogbankwa had wholly discontinued Suit No. ESMDC/97/2024 against the respondents.
The notice was signed by his counsel, Lucky Osemene, Esq., of Douglas Ogbankwa Law Firm.
The respondents listed in the suit were the Edo State Government, the Attorney-General of Edo State and the Commissioner of Police, Edo State, while former Edo State Attorney-General, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, was identified in the processes as a party sought to be joined.
The action arose from allegations allegedly communicated during the administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki to the then Commissioner of Police in Edo State, suggesting that Ogbankwa was not a qualified legal practitioner.
Ogbankwa denied the allegation and described it as completely false and damaging to his professional reputation.
He subsequently instituted the suit to clear his name, seek an inquiry into what he described as injustice perpetrated against him during Iyamu’s tenure as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, and demand ₦50 million in damages.
The claimant maintained that the alleged accusation adversely affected his standing as a lawyer and required judicial intervention to establish the true position.
However, in announcing the withdrawal, Ogbankwa said he had resolved to discontinue all civil proceedings connected with the dispute in the interest of peace and forgiveness.
He attributed the decision to his respect for the current Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and the incumbent Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Roland Otaru, SAN.
Ogbankwa said he had chosen to forgive those he accused of making false statements against him and leave the matter to God rather than continue the litigation.
The notice filed before the court states: “Take notice that the complainant wholly discontinues this suit against the defendants.”
The filing marks Ogbankwa’s formal withdrawal from the action, although the notice itself does not constitute a judicial determination of the underlying allegations or the merits of his claims.
The case had been pending before the Edo State High Court in Benin City, with Ogbankwa named as the complainant and the state government, its Attorney-General and the Commissioner of Police named as respondents.
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