~ Gives reason for going to court
Our Reporter
One of the claimants to the traditional stool of Ojoto kingdom in Anambra state, Chief Dennis Okafor, has given reasons why he sued the state government, the President- General (PG) of his community and others to court
Okafor, who appeared in the witness box at the Nnewi High court yesterday, told the presiding Judge, Justice Emeka Nri-ezedi that after his selection as the traditional ruler of Ojoto by his people and all the rights performed, the government disrupted the process by stopping it.
“Traditionally, all the rigours had been followed through different committees set up by Akanasator and Enugo , who mandated Umuofor to choose someone of their choice for the throne.
“When it was done, Romanus Anyisia brought additional three other names which included one of the respondents, Chief Gerald Mbamalu and they jettisoned the tradition and constitution of the land.
“Already, the President General of the community then, Dr Ifeanyi Umeghalu had presented me to the local government Chairman, who in turn, endorsed me as the traditional ruler elect.
When he was being cross examined by the Counsel to the state government, Joseph Anyanti who asked him whether he was aware that a letter had come through the government stopping the process, but the monarch elect said he was not aware.
Was there any election fixed by the government after putting a stop to the process? Okafor, said there was no election, adding that PG was included in the suit because after all the processes which had recognized him as the traditional ruler (Ezediebube 11) of Ojoto, it was Mbamalu that received the staff of office from government
“It was the community that crowned me their king because the PG and the Chairman that time had presented me as the choice of the community” Okafor told the court
During his own cross examination, one of the Counsels to another respondent, Ifeanyi Ezekwelu reminded the court that every member of the committees set up in the community was involved in the recognition of Okafor as the monarch elect, of which the plaintiff affirmed.
Meanwhile, Dr Jombo Mbamalu, was the lead Counsel to another claimant to the throne, Gerald Mbamalu.
After hearing from all the lawyers and their cross examinations, the presiding Judge, Justice Nri-Ezedi, adjourned proceedings to be continued on the 12th November, 2024.
