The directive by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike for the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice and his Chieftaincy and Community Affairs counterpart to issue Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the new Oba of Ogbaland, Nwachukwu Nnam-Obi is now generating reactions.
Members of Umu-egburu unit of Umu-ebe royal family/kindred of Omoku in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area have expressed deep concerns and total dismay over the governor’s directive.
The Lawyer, J.I. Ekwueme, Esq, representing the family has however, drawn the attention the Governor, Hon. Commissioner for Chieftaincy & Community Affairs and the Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice in the state as well as the general public to the suit No:PHC/2146/CS/2021: Elder Nathan Ugoji & 4 Others VS Prince Nwachukwu Nnam Obi, over the disputed stool of Oba of Ogbaland, pending in the Rivers State High Court at Omoku, presided over by Hon. Justice Mark O. Chukwu.
The claimants, who condemned the visit of Nwachukwu Nnam-Obi and others to the Governor to present himself as Oba of Ogbaland, said at no time was he selected and or coronated as the Eze Ogba, Oba of Ogbaland in accordance with Ogba tradition and therefore lacks the moral, customary and traditional right to claim, present and or parade himself as Oba of Ogbaland.
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Our correspondent reports that the claimants in the suit have a pending motion for interlocutory injunction to restrain Nwachukwu Nnam-obi from presenting himself to anyone, holding out or parading himself or causing/allowing himself to be paraded as the Eze Ogba, Oba of Ogbaland pending the hearing and determination of the main suit.
Recall that a state High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, had ended a rift on the traditional stool of Ogbogoro Community in Obio Akpor Local Government Area of the state that had lasted for over 14 years.
The presiding judge, Justice Adolphus Enebeli, in his judgment, declared Chief Felix Amadi as the paramount ruler of the Ogbogoro Community and head of the Rumukpalikwu-Ada family.
This judgment brought to rest the Ogbogoro chieftaincy tussle and the land dispute between the family of Owhor Dike of Ehiozu family, and Felix Amadi of Rumukpalikwu-Ada families.
It would be noted that 14 years of the chieftaincy war in Ogbogoro affected the development of the community.
Enebeli in his judgment declared Amadi as the paramount ruler of Ogbogoro and head of Rumukpalikwu-Ada family.
He also declared Felix Amadi and members of his family as the rightful owners of the disputed land in the area and issued perpetual injection restraining Owhor Dike and others who are claimants in the matter from interfering in the stool or the parcel of land.
Enebeli said that the defendants in the matter proved their case beyond reasonable doubt and awarded the sum of N500,000 against the claimants.
The judge further gave window for those who built on the disputed land before the case was taken to court to approach the family for renegotiation.
