Nigeria’s apex court, the Supreme Court, has sacked the Obong of Calabar, Édidem Ekpo Okon Abasi-Otu V, after years of legal tussle.
The judgment followed a suit, numbered, HC/102/2008, filed by a former Minister of Finance under late Gen Sani Abacha regime, Etubom Anthony Ani, and others.
Filed on their behalf by his lead counsel, Joe Agi (SAN), the plaintiffs had sued Otu and others in their capacities as members of the Etuboms’ Traditional Council for jettisoning the screening process of the Western Calabar.
A High Court of Cross River state, judgement of Justice Obojor A. Ogar, had sacked Abasi Otu as the Obong of Calabar on January 30, 2012 in favour of Etubom Anthony Ani and jettisoned the Appeal Court judgement that was in favour of the deposed Obong.
However, the Obong and others challenged the High Court Judgement at the Appeal Court, Calabar and was again sacked by the court and a fresh election ordered.
But in a judgment written by Justice Amina Ahgid and read by Justice Akomaye Agim, the apex court on Friday, ordered the kingmakers and Traditional Rulers’ Council to immediately convoke a fresh selection process to produce another Obong of Calabar.
The court held that the fresh selection should be held in accordance with the 2002 Constitution of the palace.
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