Obongship Tussle: Court Fixes June 11 To Rule On Interlocutory Application
By Judex OKORO
A High Court sitting in Calabar has fixed the June 11, 2024 to rule on the interlocutory application by claimants in the renewed battle for the throne of the Obong of Calabar.
This is coming barely one year after the Supreme Court had ordered for fresh election and selection of the Obong of Calabar.
The stool has been under dispute for over fifteen years untill the Supreme Court on Friday, January 13, 2023 orders for a fresh election to select a new Obong.
In a judgement written by Justice Amina Ahgid and read by Justice Akomoye Agim, upheld the judgement of the Appeal Court, Calabar, the Apex Court sacked Ekpo Abasi Otu and ordered for a fresh election in accordance with the 2002 constitution of the Palace taking into consideration equity and actual justice.
And on January 13, the Etubom Conclave of Efik kingdom again re-selected and proclaimed His Eminence Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi-Otu V as the Obong.
Not satisfied with the selection processes, a faction of kingmakers, who referred to themselves as the "legitimatea' and loyal to Etubom Anthony Ani, had sought a redress in High Court in Calabar seeking for a perpetual injunction restraining Ekpo Abasi Otu from parading himself as the Obong of Calabar.
Hearing the matter on Thursday, the Court presided over by Justice Elias Abua adopted the interlocutory application from the claimants before adjourning for the case.
The claimants in the suit No. HC/278/2023 including Etubom Essien Ekpenyong Efiok, Etubom Okon Asuquo and Etubom Micah Archibong are seeking for restraining orders to prevent certain persons from harassing and intimidating the claimants.
They are also seeking for orders restraining the Obong of Calabar from exercising his powers and parading himself as such.
Counsel to the claimants, Eric Ifere, told the court that the the orders are imperative as without it, the case will become a mere academic exercise, saying the the Court has a legal obligation to do so.
The defendants including Etubom Abasi Otu, Etubom Edem Offiong Effiwat, Edem Ita Essien Ededem, Government of Cross River State and Attorney General of Cross River State however urged the court to dismiss the application .
Counsel to the Ist to the 3rd defendants Mark Tambe told the court that the application is improper and urged the court to dismiss it.
On his part, counsel to the 4th and 5th defendants, Barrister Ikonna, also aligned with the submission of the counsel to the 1st to 3rd defendants and urged the court to dismiss the application.
