Court decries issuance of certificate to Ihite Igwe-elect, Ifurunwa, despite pending litigations

A High Court sitting in Umunze, Orumba South judicial division and presided over by Hon Justice Jude Obiora has decried the issuance of certificate of recognition to one Chief Timothy Okwudiri Ifurunwa as the monarch-elect of Ihitte community in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Ifurunwa was issued the certificate alongside other elected traditional rulers on January 14, 2025 by the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, despite contestations arising from his election, which gave birth to multiple court cases.

While High Chief Sampson Ikechukwu Okoli, Raymond Okoli and Mr Emeka Onyeanusi, acting on behalf of Umuezeoma kindred, Umuezeawuru village are contesting that the kingship should have gone to them by right, members of Ihitte traditional council are alleging they were by-passed in the election by a small cabal in the community, even though they are the kingmakers.

During a court sitting in Umunze on Tuesday, on the matter with suit number: HOS/47/2024, the judge contended that it was wrong to have issued certificate to Ifurunwa, while the legitimacy of his election was still being determined by the court.

When Hon Justice Jude Obiorah learnt that the defendants had planned to hold a coronation ceremony on January 3, 2026, he said: “Why was a certificate issued in the first place, when the matter is still in court? It is this lawlessness that has kept us where we are today.”

Counsel to Anambra State government, Barr Ifeanyi Oguejiofor who was in court had pleaded with the court that he could not file some processes involved in the matter because of ill health, while seeking for more time.

But counsel to the fourth to seventh defendant in the matter, who represent the traditional council of Ihite community, Barr Ndubuisi Onyeakpa told the court that his clients are also worried because of the January 3 coronation process, saying it would render their matter nugatory, while seeking that the court orders Ifurunwa and his supporters to stay action.”

The court however adjourned to 29 January to ensure that all processes in the matter had been filed before proceeding.

Oguejiofor in an interview with journalists said: “The summary of what happened in court today is that the matter did not proceed because all processes have not yet been filed and brought before the court, so an adjournment was sought.

“As for the scheduled coronation, it was not the issue before the court because it was not up for determination. What came up today was the motions that were pending before the Court and the court didn’t make pronouncements on pending motions, because all processes, either for or against have not been filed, that was why the matter was adjourned.”

But the plaintiff in the matter, High Chief Sampson Ikechukwu Okoli expressed happiness with what he called the uprightness of the judge in condemning the issuance of certificate by the state government to a man whose election was still being contested.

He said: “We have been on this matter for a long time. I’m happy that the judge saw what was wrong and pronounced it as such. He said the matter should have been suspended and the coronation put on hold because the matter was still in court.

“With what the court has said, I know they will not go ahead with the coronation because their representatives in court today will tell them. These are people who just act all on their own, without recourse to anyone, but today they will hear what the court has said, and I doubt if they will continue.”