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By Raymond Ozoji, Awka
The traditional ruler of Nawfia town in Njikoka local government area of Anambra state, His Royal Highness Igwe Chijioke Nwankwo, has once again made it clear that he is the only legitimate and legally recognised traditional ruler of Nawfia ancient kingdom.
Igwe Chijioke Nwankwo, who made the categorical statement during an exclusive session with our correspondent in his palace at Nawfia, said that one Dan Obele who is currently parading himself as the traditional ruler of the town was doing so at his own peril because he is only pretending to be the monarch and dwelling in fools paradise.
He said an Awka High Court ruling has given its verdict that the traditional stool of the town should return to status quo thereby reinstating him as the authentic and legally recognised traditional ruler of Nawfia community and that any other thing in the contrary would amount to contempt of court.
He therefore furnished our correspondent with evidence of the court ruling which declared that status quo be maintained as he said he was unjustly dethroned by the previous administration for no verifiable reasons.
Igwe Chijioke Nwankwo who made reference to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, stated that it was an infringement on his fundamental rights to freedom of movement and association, for him to be forcefully removed from office because he and some other traditional rulers accompanied Prince Arthur Eze to Abuja to see President Muhammadu Buhari sometime last year.
He said he has all the rights and privileges as enshrined in the Constitution to visit any part of the country without taking permission from anyone or any person tele-guiding his movements. Igwe Chijioke Nwankwo said there were no clear-cut justifiable reasons given by the past administration to abdicate the throne of his forefathers.
Igwe Nwankwo said, “Let me say it categorically without a quantum of doubt that there has never been a change of power of Igwe Chijioke Nwankwo being removed from August 11th, 2021 when Obiano gave the suspension. A court process was initiated because of the illegality of the suspension and there were several injunctions given by court 2 of Awka High Court presided over by Justice Chukwudi Okah.
“Again, no person has been Igwe according to Supreme Court several judgements. Once a case is filed, everything remains status quo. That notwithstanding, the Anambra State Government on 11th March, 2021 cancelled its application to crown an Igwe yet they proceeded to do their kangaroo coronation on 25th March, 2021.
“So whether the government is part of the conspiracy, that I don’t know. But the people that supposedly made them Igwe are before two courts of competent jurisdiction. Moreso, on March 9th, 2021, I heard they would be given certificates. I called my attorney and informed him. Two days later, they were given certificates. We therefore filed a motion asking the court to set the certificate of recognition given to Daniel Obele aside for violation of court proceedings and law. The court agreed and set the certificate aside.
“As I speak to you now, till date no court anywhere in the whole federation has given a contrary order. The ruling of the court of June 21st, 2022 still subsists. Not even stop of execution was given. There is absolutely no appeal anywhere in the whole federation. What they have filed is a permission to file an appeal because they ran out of time. Everything they have committed now is contempt of court.
“To show you who Dan Obele is; as of the time that judgement was given, he granted a press conference saying that the ruling of the court was a rumour. That is to show you how dishonest he is. He did not file any legal appeal and he is wangling with corruption and we will soon get them. He is just trying to buy his way through but the long arm of the law will catch up with him.”
When contacted, Dan Obele told our correspondent that he is the traditional ruler of Nawfia and that Chijioke Nwankwo is an impostor. Obele said the court ruling of 21st June, 2022 being referred to by Chijioke Nwankwo was nothing but a mere charade. He said people should come to Nawfia and find out for themselves who the real traditional ruler is.
Chief Obele maintained that the issue of Chijioke Nwankwo was not what one would break his head about because the government of Anambra state and the people of Nawfia were fully and adequately aware that he Dan Obele is the one occupying the traditional stool of Nawfia as the officially recognised and certificated traditional ruler of the community.
