Supreme Court Removes Obong Of Calabar

The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Friday dethroned the Obong of Calabar, Édidem Ekpo Okon Abasi-Otu V.

The action is coming after several years of legal confrontation.

Édidem Ekpo Okon Abasi-Otu V had been at loggerheads with some members of the traditional council over the processes leading to his installation.

According to the lead judgment written by Justice Amina Augie and read by Justice Akomaye Agim, the Supreme Court upheld the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Calabar, and ordered a fresh election.

Specifically, the Supreme Court ordered the kingmakers and Traditional Rulers’ Council to, without any further delay, convoke a fresh selection process to produce another Obong of Calabar in accordance with the 2002 constitution of the palace.

It would be recalled that a former minister of Finance under the late Gen Sani Abacha regime, Etubom Anthony Ani, and others in Suit No. HC/102/2008, filed by his lead counsel, Mr. Joe Agi (SAN), had sued Otu and others in their capacities as members of the Etuboms’ Traditional Council for jettisoning the screening process of the Western Calabar.

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