The Supreme Court has dethroned the Obong of Calabar, His Royal Majesty Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V.
The apex court who judgement was delivered by Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, ordered the kingmakers and Traditional Rulers’ Council to conduct a fresh selection process to produce another Obong of Calabar.
However, the judgment written by Justice Amina Augie and read by Justice Akomoye Agim, stated that the Obong can still contest for the position.
The court held that the the selection process for the new Obong should be held in accordance with the 2002 constitution of the Palace.
A former Minister of Finance under late Gen Sani Abacha regime, Etubom Anthony Ani, had contested the outcome of the selection process of the Obong in Suit No. HC/102/2008, filed by his lead counsel,
Mr Joe Agi, SAN, had on behalf of the former minister sued Otu and others in their capacities as members of the Etuboms’ Traditional Council for not adhering to the screening process of the Western Calabar.
The court ruled 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”.
