From Jeff Amechi Agbodo, Onitsha
Alor community in Idemili South local government area of Anambra state, has commended the Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo for adhering to the Court’s judgement of dethronement of Mac-Antoney Okonkwo as traditional ruler of the community.
The community is where the former Governor and immediate past Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige’s comes from.
The decision of the Anambra state government was sequel to the petition by the former President general of the community, Chief Uzoma Igbonwa, to the Attorney-General and commissioner for Justice of the state.
The petition, was to stop the planned celebration of new yam festival by the dethroned monarch, which according to the petitioner, was to forestall breakdown of law and order in the area.
In the petition to the government, Igbonwa, officially submitted the judgment of the High Court of Anambra State, Ogidi Judicial Division, that dethroned the monarch.
The judgment, delivered in February, 2022, had restrained Mac-Anthony Okonkwo from parading himself as the Igwe of Alor or performing any function in the name of the community.
The community had been in leadership crisis for a long time, culminating on having different town Unions and two different monarchs.
When the former monarch sued a section of the community, that he was duly selected as the monarch, the other group led by Igbonwa, equally counter sued, saying he was never elected or selected according to the constitution of the community
The people said that Alor customs, tradition and the constitution were not followed, and also, that the certificate of recognition by then State government, led by Peter Obi was illegal and unconstitutional
Following the Court judgement of February 22, 2022, restraining the former monarch, the community had installed a new traditional ruler Evang. Dr Ebelechukwu Chukwumesili, as Ezedioramma 111 of Alor, which took place on November 3rd, 2022.
However, the former monarch, Mac-Anthoney, had appealed the matter, which was still pending in the court.
As a result of the High court judgement which had not been vacated, the state government had stopped the 2023 celebration of new yam festival by Okonkwo, following a petition from the community .
According to the document signed by TC Ikenna, Esq on behalf of the Attorney General and commissioner for Justice, said the court order must be obeyed to avoid breakdown of law and order in Anambra state
According to the document, ” I am directed by the honourable Attorney general and commissioner for Justice, Anambra state to inform you that after considering content of your petition and stated judgement in suit HiD/354/2019, between Mr. Frank Nwabufo Okoye and ORS Vs Incorporated Trustees of Alor People’s Assembly and ORs
“Having been satisfied that the judgment and orders delivered in the above-mentioned suit in Paragraph 1.1. above are the extant and subsisting orders of the court between the parties and on the same subject matter, save and until the contrary is established, Mr.Mac-Anthony Chinedu Okonkwo should not conduct or superintend over the new yam festival scheduled on Saturday, in the purported capacity of Traditional ruler of Alor Town.
“It is unlawful and against the public peace of the town, therefore he is restrained from doing so to avoid total breakdown of law and order in the community.
“Finally, it is the opinion of the Hon.
Attorney-General/Commissioner for Justice that since the motion for stay of execution had been dismissed, he should not parade himself as the Igwe of Alor or perform any function in the name of Igwe of Alor until the High Court Judgment is over ruled by the appellant Court.
“At the interim, he is not the the Igwe of Alor” it stated.