Court ends 14-year A’Ibom chieftaincy tussle

The 14-year-old legal battle over the village headship of Ikot Ekop in THE Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State has finally been laid to rest.

This followed the judgment of an Uyo High Court which struck out the case seeking to dethrone the Village Head of Ikot Ekop, Chief Asuakak  Brown, popularly known as Chief Aloysius Effiong Brown.

The claimant, Chief Clement Udo, had urged the court to restrain Brown from parading himself as the village head of the community.

But Justice Ntong Ntong, on Wednesday, struck out the case for want of jurisdiction.

The judge held: “The matter commenced on 22nd December, 2010 without a proper and valid writ of summon which robbed the court the requisite jurisdiction to hear and determine the case, hence, the court cannot make any consequential order as to who is the village head or not. Aalthough the claimant, Chief Clement Bassey Udo, had a genuine intention and desire to champion his case and grievances, he did not approach the court properly as required by law.”

Justice Ntong added that“There is an uncontroverted evidence that Chief Asuakak Effiong Brown has been recognised by the Governor of Akwa Ibom State in line with Section 15 of Traditional Rulers Law and that the presumption of the law is that due process was followed, hence I have no judicial powers to disturb such a  traditional recognition.”

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