Justice Benjamin C. Iheka of the Imo State High Court has nullified casting of ballots as a means of identifying and recognizing traditional rulers by the governor in the state.
Justice Iheka made the order while delivering judgment, which lasted over three hours, in a suit, HOW/383/2014, instituted by Gabriel Nwosu against Imo State Governor, Attorney General of Imo State, and Samuel Ordu.
Justice Iheka said: “The first defendant (governor) has no powers to choose and recognize the third defendant (Samuel Ordu) as Eze or traditional ruler of Obiangwu autonomous community in Ngor Okpala local government area of Imo State when the third defendant was not identified, selected, appointed and installed as Eze or traditional ruler by the people of Obiangwu autonomous community following their constitution.
“I declare as null and void, the action of the governor, by casting ballots as a means of identifying and recognizing the third defendant, as Eze or traditional ruler of Obiangwu autonomous community, which is contrary to the customs and traditions of Obiangwu autonomous community, the constitution of the community and the Traditional Rulers and Autonomous Community Law number six of 2006, as amended.”
The Court also set aside the purported identification or selection and recognition of Samuel Ordu as Eze or traditional ruler of Obiangwu autonomous community by the governor.
Justice Iheka went further to restrain Samuel Ordu from conducting or parading himself as the traditional ruler of the community.
He held that the claimant’s suit was competent and within the jurisdiction of the court to determine and discountenance the preliminary objections of the defendants.
This judgement has put in the balance the fate of some traditional rulers in the state whon were either handpicked by the former governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha, or through the casting of ballots organized by the former administration.
