Eze Apara Rebisi Stool: Judge Returns File To CJ

A vacation High Court
in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has handed over the case file in a suit challenging the stool of Eze Apara Rebisi in Port Harcourt city local government area of the state to the acting chief judge of the state for proper assignment.
The trial Judge, Justice Adolphus Enebeli, announced this on Monday during the commencement on the hearing on a suit filed by Eze Emeka Anyabelem, Paramount ruler of Oroworukwo challenging the purported installation of a new paramount ruler for Eze Apara Rebisi stool.
Eze Anyabelem is asking the court among other things for an interlocutory injunction restraining any of these persons, Barrister Uche Isaiah Elikwu and Prince Victor Woluchem from parading themselves as the paramount ruler of Eze Apara Rebisi pending the determination of the substantive suit before the court.
He further prayed the court to restrain the state government and the Port Harcourt City local government from recognizing or dealing with any of the persons in the capacity of Eze Apara Rebisi pending the determination of the suit before the court.
Justice Enebeli said the reason to return back the case file to the acting chief judge for re-assignment was because his court was a vacation one which has been terminated on Monday following the resumption of the high courts from their annual vacation.
He stated that he can not make any declaration on the prayers sought by the claimant since he may not be the one to trial the matter, adding that the vacation court ends today.
According to him, he has no more time after today as to give orders on the prayers before the court but that the best option is to hand over the case file back to CJ for assignment.
He advised all the parties involved in the matter to ensure that they regularize all their services before the trial will commence so as to facilitate quick dispensation of the matter.
Later in an interview with newsmen at the court premises, counsel for the claimant, James Ocholi (SAN) and the defendants mark Agwu said they would heed to the judge’s advice.