…says monarch emerged through a faulty process
Wevole Ezin, Calabar
A group of chiefs otherwise known as Etuboms’ in the Efik kingdom in Cross River State, have rejected the leadership of the Obong of Calabar, Etubom Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu, claiming that the stool remains vacant following a subsisting court order.
TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports that the embattled monarch was briefly dethroned earlier in the year after a protracted leadership tussle in the palace, but was later reinstated following a ruling by the apex court.
However in a statement signed and issued to newsmen by both HRH, Etubom Essien Ekpenyong and HRH, Etubom Nyong Effiom, Chairman/Regent of the Etuboms’ Council and the Paramount Ruler of Calabar South Local Government Area, respectively, explained that the recent decision was premised on the earlier judgement of the supreme Court declaring the stool vacant.
According to the statement, the process that brought the embattled monarch to the throne was faulty, illegal and not in consonance with the principles of equity, fairness and natural justice.
Citing the court’s verdict, it noted that the selection process for the new Obong should have been based on the 2002 constitution of the Etuboms’ Traditional Rulers Council which presents seven (7) surviving Etuboms’ including its Chairman and Secretary, who have the authority to convene any of the meetings of the Etuboms’.
” We the undersigned are the legitimate Etuboms’ of the palace of the Obong of Calabar. We wish therefore to bring to the attention of the entire efik kingdom the present situation concerning the throne of the efik kingdom.
“By dictates of the judgements of the supreme Court of Nigeria, in appeal no:SC663/2023-Etubom Anthony & Ors v Etubom Essien Ekpenyong Efiok & Ors delivered on the 13th of January 2023, Etubom Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu stands dethroned as the Obong of Calabar.
” Pursuants to article 5a (I) of the 2002 constitution of the Etuboms’ Council, the only Etuboms’ who can participate in the Etuboms’ conclave are we the undersigned Etuboms’ who were in the Obong’s palace as at 31st of March 2008 as well as the following qualified Etuboms’: Etubom Bassey O. Duke, Etubom Cobham M. Boco, Etubom Okon O. Asuquo, Etubom Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu.
“This is so because all other persons now parading themselves as Etuboms’ were all not capped in line with 5a (I) of the 2002 constitution of the Etuboms’ council as they were all capped by Etubom Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu, who as a result of the court’s decision is deemed to never have been the Obong of Calabar”, the statement read in part.
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