The Supreme Court of Nigeria has dethroned Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, the Obong of Calabar.
Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba ordered the kingmakers and Traditional Rulers’ Council to immediately usher in 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.
A former minister of finance, Chief Etubom Anthony Ani and others in Suit No. HC/102/2008, filed by his lead counsel, Mr. Joe Agi, SAN, had sued Otu and others in their capacities as members of the Etuboms’ Traditional Council for disregarding the screening process of the Western Calabar.
The court ordered that “the 1st Respondent (Etubom Ani) who admittedly was not capped/inducted into the Etuboms’ Council of the Palace of the Obong by the Obong at the time of the selection process was not traditionally qualified and eligible to vote and be voted for as the Obong of Calabar under Exhibit 1/20.
“That the 1st Appellant (Abasi Otu) was traditionally qualified and eligible to vote and be voted for as the Obong of Calabar under Exhibit 1/20 at the time of the selection process”, hence the Appeal court set aside the selection process that produced Etubom Ani as candidate and also set aside the March 31 proclamation of Etubom Abasi Otu as Obong Ordered by the Etuboms’ Conclave of the Palace of the Obong of Calabar, whose mandate it is under Article 5(a) (ii) (iv) of Exhibit 1/20, to do so and it “to conduct another process of selecting a new Obong of Calabar, in accordance with the provisions of Exhibit 1/20 and in strict compliance with the rules of natural justice”.
According to the judgment written by Justice Amina Augie and read by Justice Akomoye Agim, the deposed Obong is qualified to partake in the selection processes and may still be chosen.
This is the first time the Obong, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, would step down for another selection exercise.