Edidem Akpabio Udo Ukpa secures a temporary victory in the Oku Ibom Ibibio tussle |
By
Abasiofiok Inyang and Theophilus Yurika
The long
drawn legal battle for the soul of Oku Ibom Ibibio, the highest traditional
stool of the Ibibio land, yesterday reached the climax following a court order
that the Oku Ibom Ibibio and Paramount Ruler of Etinan Local Government Area,
His Royal Majesty, Edidem Ime Dickson Umoette should not parade himself as the
Oku Ibom Ibibio IV.
Justice
Umokoyo E. Esang of High Court 3, Uyo, in his 1hour, 15 minutes judgment
ordered the nullification of the contemptuous installation of Edidem Umoette
and warned him not to parade himself as the Oku Ibom Ibibio IV.
Justice
Esang in his order said “I order that the contemptuous installation of the 1st
respondent/applicant by the 2nd – 5th
respondents/applicants on the 7th July, 2012 is hereby nullified. I
further order that the 1st respondent/applicant not to parade
himself as the Oku Ibom Ibibio IV pending the determination of the substantial
suit.”
While
invoking the inherent powers of the court, Justice Esang further ordered an
interlocutory injunction against all the applicants in the suit from claiming
the traditional stool.
Edidem
Umoette and four others had approached the court in a suit No HU/718/2011 to
lay claim to the Oku Ibom Ibibio IV. They argued on the point law to support
their claim and took a step further to coronate and install Umoette as Oku Ibom
Ibibio IV on July 7, 2012, a situation which the self-acclaimed Oku Ibom Ibibio
and Paramount Ruler of Onna, Edidem Akpabio Udo Ukpa, the defendant in the
suit, argued as being “misconceived and misleading”.
Akpabio
Udo Ukpa had urged the court to recognize him as the Oku Ibom Ibibio IV.
Reacting
to the judgement, the legal adviser to the Oku Ibom Ibibio IV, Obong Udo C.J.
George said the court has given its verdict and Ibibio elders will study it in
order to take further actions. He said that the Ibibio people had already taken
their decision on the Oku Ibom Ibibio IV, adding that the court ruling is “a temporary
setback.”
Culled
from The Sensor
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