Judgement on Calabar stool fixed for Jan 11

Judgment in the four-year-old legal tussle over the throne of the Obong of Calabar has been fixed for January 11, 2012.A former Minister of Finance, Chief Anthony Ani, and four others had in April 2008 sued the Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Otu, and seven others, challenging the verdict of the Etuboms Traditional Council in the selection and proclamation of Otu (V) as the Obong of Calabar.A high court in Calabar presided over by Justice Obojor Ogar had recently, after receiving final addresses from the counsel to Ani, Mr. Joe Agi; counsel to Otu, Chief Rotimi Williams and counsel to the Etuboms traditional council, Mr. Ukpong Eba, adjourned the matter till January 11 for judgment.Ani had in his claim and submission by his counsel, sought a declaration that the presentation and/selection of the fourth defendant (Otu), who was chairman of the screening committee for the selection of the Obong of Calabar-elect was contrary to natural justice, equity and good conscience.That the purported selection of the fourth defendant as the Obong of Calabar-elect, who is from Adiabo, is contrary to the decision of the Western Calabar Traditional Rulers Council that Ikoneto has the exclusive right to produce the next Obong and the fourth defendant is not qualified to be selected and/or appointed.He also sought a declaration that the refusal of the Etuboms Traditional Rulers Council of the Obongs palace to entertain the complaint of the plaintiff violates his right to fair hearing.He, therefore, asked for an injunction to restrain the government from according recognition and/or giving staff of office to the fourth defendant.Counsel to the defendant, Williams, who was represented by Miss Rebecca Tanga, asked the court to dismiss the applicants claims, that he was not qualified to be Obong of Calabar.She told the court that the applicant was not given fair hearing in the process of selection of the Obong of Calabar.
Click here to read full news..