by crossriverwatch admin
A State High Court sitting in Calabar, Cross River State and presided over by Justice Edem Ita Koofreh has given a stay of action order over the purported selection of a new paramount ruler for Calabar South Local Government Area of the State.
The embattled paramount ruler of Calabar South and leader of Efut nation Muri Munene Effiong Mbukpa, the Chairman of Efut Combined Assembly, Ndabu Obo E. Obo and the Secretary of Efut Combined Assembly, Ndabu Godwin Bassey in a motion ex-parte brought before the court had prayed for an Order for Leave to apply for an Order of Certiorari quashing the decision of the Cross River State Government to conduct fresh selection into the office of Muri Munene.
The Claimants/Applicants had also prayed the court to grant an order of stay of action in respect of the purported election.
The presiding Judge, Justice Edem Koofreh granted the prayers of the Applicants to file an order of Certiorari quashing the decision of the Cross River State Government which is the second defendant in the matter to conduct selection into the office of the Muri Munene.
According to the order, the “Leave so granted shall operate as a stay of action in respect of the purported election.”
In a 15 paragraphs affidavit deposed to by Ndabu Godwin Bassey and Secretary of Efut Combined Assembly, he claimed that Effiong Mbukpa was duly selected as the Muri Munene of Efut Kingdom by the Efut Combined Assembly, the highest organ of the Efut nation and the body charged with the duty of selection of the Muri Munene.
In the affidavit, Bassey claimed that Mbukpa was shocked and surprised when he received a government circular inviting him to make himself available for the process of filing the vacant stool of the Muri Munene of the Efut Kingdom.
He also claimed that there is a subsisting judgment of the High Court that recognized Mbukpa as the Muri Munene of the Efuts and also recognizing his right to perform his functions as same and that the claimants/ applicants had filed a motion seeking an interlocutory order from the court restraining the defendants/respondents from embarking on the selection of a new Muri Munene on September 21, 2012.
Bassey also claimed in the affidavit that counsel to Mbukpa Chief Fidelis Onyebueke had informed him (Mbukpa) which he believed, that the act of the defendant of continuing with the re-election process despite the pending motions and pending suits was contemptuous of the court.
The defendants in the matter are Prof. Itam Hogan Itam, Government of Cross River State, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Honourable John Eyikwaje, Honourable Ekeng Henshaw and Calabar South Local Government.
The matter was adjourned to October 29, 2012, for motion.