Court Orders DSS, Cross River AG To Produce Detained Monarch

Federal High Court Càlabar, presided over by Justice Ifeoma Ojukwu, has ordered the Department of State Security, DSS, and the Cross River State Attorney General (AG) to produce Chief Maurice Omin Iso in court on Wednesday, 15 January 2025.

Iso, a traditional ruler of Esuku-Otu, Ikot Ansa, Calabar, is said to have been detained by security operatives since December 21, 2024, on the directives of the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.

The Ikot Ishie monarch was incarcerated in a detention facility purportedly belonging to the DSS. He filed an action against his unlawful detention and infringement of his fundamental human right to a fair hearing, personal liberty, and freedom of movement at the Federal High Court Calabar.

The aggrieved monarch is said to have won court cases involving lands and chieftaincy issues against the Cross River State government and was allegedly abducted from his home on 21 December 2024.

However, Findings by LEADERSHIP revealed that five traditional rulers eying the throne had used their connections in the government circle to detain Chief Iso unlawfully.

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In No. FHC/CA/CS/3/2025, Justice Ojukwu instructed the State Director of DSS in Cross River, the Attorney-General and the Commissioner for Justice of Cross River State to present Chief Omin Iso to the court unfailingly on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at 9:00 am.

The court order issued by Justice Ojukwu asked the parties behind Iso‘s detention to explain the monarch‘s detention.

The court order followed arguments by Iso‘s counsel, Justina Oka Obono-Obla, and a review of his urgent application and supporting documents.

After finding merit in Chief Iso‘s case, the presiding judge granted the application for a hearing after looking into the case file.

Iso is said to have been forcibly taken from his residence in Esuku Otu Ikot Ansa, Calabar, Municipality, on December 21, 2024, to an unknown facility where communication with his loved ones and his counsel was severed.

LEADERSHIP, however, gathered that Iso was taken hostage for various allegations concerning land grabbing, interference in the appointment of a traditional ruler, misappropriation of funds from the sale of community lands, and the instigation of land-related disputes.