Court Ends Feud Over Akwa Ibom Paramount Ruler’s Stool

An Akwa Ibom State High Court division sitting in Abak, presided over by Justice Ezekiel Enang, has ended years of feud over the disputed stool of the paramount rulership of Etim Ekpo LGA.

In the judgement, the court affirmed the Certificate of Recognition (CoR) of Obong (Prof) Amanam Udo, as the authentic paramount ruler of Etim Ekpo LGA.

The clan head of Ikono, Obong Ezekiel Iwok, had filed a suit challenging the CoR issued to retired Prof Amanam Udo by the state government but Justice Enang dismissed the case as “lacking in merit.”

The judge held that the former Traditional Rulers Council (TRC) of Etim Ekpo, which purportedly selected Obong Ezekiel Iwok as paramount ruler, “did not follow the provisions of the law.”

Dismissing the suit, the court explained that “the then Traditional Rulers Council did not comply with Section 21 of the Traditional Rulers Law, which mandates the commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, to invite the TRC in writing to consult on the selection of a new paramount ruler.”

Justice Enang further held that “since the former Traditional Rulers Council did not comply with the law, the court has to set aside the selection and affirm the appointment of Prof Amanam Udo by the reconstituted TRC of Etim Ekpo LGA.

The court awarded N50,000 cost against the clan head of Ikono, Obong Ezekiel Iwok, in favour of the paramount ruler, Obong Amanam Udo.

Joined in the suit as claimants were Obong Ezekiel Iwok and six others on one side versus the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Akwa Ibom State and six others, on the other side.