Anambra Igweship certificate saga: Legal firework begins March 22

The 2nd to 5th defendants are Hon. Tony Collins Nwabunwanne, the state Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs; Chief Kenneth Okoli, the factional President-General of Umuona Progressive Union, UPU; Engr. Anthony Muobike, Secretary-General of UPU and Chief Sunday Christopher Ikechukwu Ezeofor.

Specifically, the plaintiff, Igwe Ejesieme is demanding the N50 million punitive and aggravated damages from the 2nd to 5th defendants for misleading Governor Soludo, the 1st defendant into approving the withdrawal of his certificate of recognition as the traditional ruler of Umuona, sometime in 2023.

In a statement of claim filed on his behalf at Aguata High Court Registry by his legal counsel, Chief Ikenna Egbuna SAN, the plaintiff is also seeking a declaration of the court that the selection of the 5th defendant, Ezeofor as the Igwe of Umuona is null and void and of no effect.

The plaintiff is also seeking an order of the court compelling the 1st defendant, Soludo to restore his Certificate of Recognition which he said was wrongly withdrawn by the state government, together with an injunction restraining the 1st defendant from granting a certificate of recognition to Ezeofor, the 5th defendant.

The plaintiff recalled that he was selected as the traditional ruler under the 1998 Constitution of Umuona community and presented to both the Aguata local and state governments which all recognized the choice of the community and then granted him a certificate of recognition, adding that a copy of the certificate of recognition granted him by former Governor Peter Obi in 2014 will be relied upon at the trial.

He contended that a letter from the 2nd defendant with reference No. MLGCCA/HC/2022/T/025/78 dated June 13, 2023 which contained the withdrawal of his chieftaincy certificate by the state government was made to mislead the people of Umuona and the general public, adding that his alleged removal did not follow due process and is therefore null and void.

However, no date has been fixed for hearing of the civil suit but in a twist, the 5th defendant, Ezeofor who is currently having the chieftaincy certificate of the state government as the incumbent traditional ruler of Umuona, teamed up with the 3rd defendant, Chief Kenneth Okoli, the factional President-General of UPU with eight others and filed an application for the enforcement of their fundamental human rights, dignity of human person, personal liberty, fair hearing and freedom of movement.