Chieftaincy tussle: Court orders transfer of case from Choba to Isiokpo

Tina Amanda

A Customary Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt has ordered that the hearing of chieftaincy tussle between Chief AGBARAKA AMADI, five others and Eze DANIEL OGBONNA-DODO and four others be transferred from Choba Customary Court to Isiokpo Customary court.

Chief AGBARAKA AMADI, five others had after the coronation of Eze DANIEL OGBONNA-DODO as the Paramount ruler of Alakahia community in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of the state approached Customary court in Choba to challenge the coronation.

After granting some Ex-parte motion and applications, Chief AGBARAKA AMADI and five others approached the Customary court of appeal and alleged on not having confidence in the Choba Customary court as well as to discontinue hearing on the matter at the Choba court.

The three-man panel led by CHRISTINA NWANKWO in their ruling quashed all the processes held at Choba Customary court and ordered that the matter be transferred to Isiokpo Customary court and at the same time vacated ex-part motion against claimants which they held expired after seven days of order.

The three-man panel, however, did not touch on the issue of authenticity of Eze DANIEL OGBONNA-DODO as the Paramount ruler of Alakahia community but awarded the sum of one hundred thousand Naira as cost in favour of plaintiffs counsel for the defendants’ lawyer being absence at the last adjourned date.

Speaking to journalist, counsel to the claimants, GRACE TONY expressed happiness over the ruling of the court which she said will enable justice to be served in the matter.

Counsel to the defendants in the suit, OYEE JOHN-NDAH said they are not bothered by the ruling of the customary court of appeal since it did not touch the matter on the already existing Paramount ruler of Alakahia community.