Court Declares Eze Elenwa As Eze Egi Of Ogbaland

A High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, has declared Eze Victor Egbo Elenwa as the  duly selected/coronated Eze Egi  of Egi Kingdom in Ogba /Egbema /Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The court also declared the recognition and gazetting of Late Professor Anele Uzondu Nwokoma as the Eze Egi by the Rivers State Government as null and void.
The court presided over by Justice E N Thompson also declared that the Egi Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs is the only body authorised to select, appoint and elect the Eze Egi in Ogba/ Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government Area.
According to the court, HRM Eze Victor EgboElenwa was properly selected and coronated in accordance  with Egi  traditions , customs and by virtue of the customary law of Egi.
It declared that the 5th claimant is the Eze Egi (Eze Ogba Ukwu) Paramount Ruler of Egi Kingdom under and by virtue of the customary law prevailing in Egi in Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
It also declared the purported selection/coronation of Professor Uzondu Nwokoma as the Eze Egi by the first defendant which is the incorporated trustees of Egi Peoples Assembly  as contrary to Egi customs and traditions and as such unlawful, illegal, null and void.
It finally declared that the purported recognition and gazetting of of the now deceased Prof. Anele Uzondu Nwokoma as Eze Egi (Eze Ogba Ukwu) paramount ruler of Egi Kingdom was unlawful, null and of no effect whatsoever.
“The said recognition of the now deceased Professor Anele Uzondu Nwokoma and the statutory instrument on the 29th day of August 2016 and published at page 82 Supplement to Rivers State of Nigeria Official Gazette No.4 Vol.52 of 20th September, 2016 are hereby set aside,” the court said.
The case was filed in Suit No PHC/3359/2016.
Plaintiffs in the suit were HRM Eze (Dr) M. London Nwaobiyebe(JP); HRM( Dr) Jonathan Nwogbidi (JP); High Chief Micah Nwankwo; HRH Eze Ikeagwu A Akokwu for themselves and as representing members of the Egi Clan Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs; and HRM Eze Victor Egbo Elenwa (JP).

By: John Bibor