Edidem Ekpo Abasi Otu affirmed Obong of Calabar
A five-member panel of the justices of the Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal filed by the former minister of Finance Etubom Anthony Ani against Etubom Ekpo Okon over the traditional stool of the Obong of Calabar and the traditional ruler of the Efik kingdom.
The judgment which was delivered by Justice Amina Augie dismissed the appeal for lacking merit
Etubom Anthony Ani had approached a lower court challenging Etubom Okon Abasi and others in their capacity as members of Etubom’s Traditional council for allegedly distorting the screening process of the western Calabar when Abasi Otu was the chairman of the council.
Justice Obojor Ogah of the high court of Cross River State had removed Abasi Otu who was the chairman of the committee for the selection of a candidate for the stool of oblong of Calabar, as candidate elect, on grounds that it’s contrary to natural justice, equity and good conscience, thereby upholding Etubom Anthony’s emergence as Obong of Calabar elect.
Not satisfied with the decision, Abasi Otu appealed the decision of the lower court at the Calabar division of the court of appeal.
While delivering judgment in the appeal in June 2013, the then Justice Garba Lawal now a justice of the Supreme Court, set aside the selection process that produced Etubom Anthony Ani on grounds that he was not traditionally eligible to vote and be voted for at the time.
The Judge held that Etubom Abasi Otu was traditionally qualified at the time of the selection process, but also set aside his proclamation as Obong.
The judge, therefore, ordered that the Etuboms conclave of the palace of the Obong of Calabar, conduct another selection process in strict compliance with the rules of natural justice.
Etubom Anthony Ani approached the Supreme Court, challenging the decision of the Calabar division of the court of appeal.
In a unanimous decision, the apex court upheld the decision of the lower court and dismissed the suit for lacking merit.
By: Archibong Emmanuel
(Snr. Reporter)