Supreme Court Judgment: Obong palace affirms His Eminence Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V as Obong of Calabar
The Palace of the Obong of Calabar, His Eminence Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V has recanted the news that he was dethroned by the Supreme Court.
This was made known to the public in a statement made available to newsmen in Calabar and signed by HRM Etubom Bassey Duke, Chairman of Etuboms’ Traditional Council on Tuesday, January 17, 2023.
According to the statement, the case instituted by Chief Anthony Ani, the former Minister of Finance was thrown out for lack of merit, and the court affirmed the judgment of the appeal court.
“The attention of the Etuboms’ Traditional Council, which is the Supreme Traditional, Administrative and Socio-Political Authority in the Efik Kingdom has been drawn to numerous sensational headlines in some newspapers and the social media following the 13th January 2023 judgment of the Supreme Court on the appeal cases brought to it by Chief Anthony Ani.
“The Supreme Court only affirms the Judgment of the Court of Appeal including the order to carry out a reselection process which had been tainted by the wrong inclusion of Chief Anthony Ani.”
The brief enjoined the media to conduct due diligence before going to the press as wrong information could lead to the breakdown of law and order in the Efik Kingdom.
Also, the noble daughters of the Efik Kingdom led by a prominent Efik daughter, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa paid a solidarity visit to the Palace of the Obong of Calabar to identify with his leadership and were welcomed by the head of media of the Etuboms Council, Etubom Francis Edet who called for calm in the tension created by the misinterpretation of the Supreme Court ruling.
He corroborated the speech by the Chairman of Etubom’s Traditional Council HRM Etubom Bassey Duke that there is no vacancy is the revered high-profile traditional Efik kingdom stool as His Eminence Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V is still the treaty King and Obong of Calabar.
By: Archibong Emmanuel
(Snr. Reporter)
