Several
elders in an Enugu community who are completely unsatisfied with the
Igwe-elect, have gone before the court of law to make their case.
A report by The Sun News has shown how about nine elders of Ugwogo
Nike Community in the Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State
dragged their Igwe-elect to court for allegedly violating customs and
traditions of the community as it concerns enthronement of a new
traditional ruler.
One of the elders is said to be 120 years old.
The matter, which came up at an Enugu State High Court, on
Thursday, was adjourned to April 3, 2017, for mention just as the court
granted an application for substituted service on the defendants as
requested by plaintiff’s counsel, Agu G. Agu, who expressed concern that
the defendants were not in court having been served.
Barr. Agu also informed the court that the first defendant and Igwe
elect of Ugwogo, Emeka Ugwu issued an order threatening that anyone
from the community who attends the court sitting will be ostracized.
He, therefore, sought the protection of the court for the members
of the community whom he noted are mostly the aged who cannot run or
defend themselves.
Justice Reuben Onuora, while granting the application for
substituted service, refused to make any pronouncement over the alleged
threat from the 1st defendant urging the elders to go in peace and be
law abiding.
“We don’t expect anything untoward to happen because the first
defend is a lawyer and should know how to carry on without taking laws
into his hands. But if he does that, we are here and we know what to do
in that circumstance.”
Elder Raphael Uguwu, the oldest man, and eight other elders of the
community in Suit NO: E/657/2016 are seeking a court declaration that
the Igwe-elect is not fit and proper to be installed/coronated the Igwe
of Ugwogo Nike for breaching the guideline for selection of a
traditional ruler in the community.
They are also accusing the Igwe-elect of failing to perform
traditional rites by presenting himself to the Elders in council for the
performance of customary rites condition precedent to coronation
/installation.
They further claim that the Igwe elect has not been formally
presented to the General Assembly before celebration of any kind and
indeed functioning as an Igwe.
That the Igwe elect has been holding meetings without full
attendance of all organs that constitute the General assembly and its
final decision that must be sanctioned by the Council of Elders.
They are further seeking the courts’ declaration that Chief Kelvin
Nnamani, and not Nelson Okoh, appointed by the Igwe elect, is the Town
Union chairman and Hereford Regent of Ugwogo Nike Community until a new
traditional ruler is coronated and installed.
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