THERE was jubilation in Ishiagu kingdom in Ivo Local government area
of Ebonyi state when news about the resolution of the Ezeship tussle
in the area filtered into the ears of the members of the community.
The matter which was brought before an Ebonyi State High Court sitting
in Abakaliki on 23rd May, 2012 by the plaintiffs, Mr. Joseph Makwe and
Anor against the defendant, Chief Moses Okafor Ngele was yesterday
struck out due to lack of diligent prosecution by the parties
involved.
In a dramatic twist, the Plaintiff’s Counsel, E.Uwakwe who had stood
side by side with his clients over the matter, orally applied to
discontinue the suit.
In his ruling, the presiding Judge, Hon. Justice Benson Ogbu who
carefully listened to the oral application made by the plaintiff’s
counsel, which was not opposed by the counsel to the defendant, Mazi
M. Igbo, struck out the suit.
Reacting after the ruling, the Agu III of Ishiagu Kingdom, Eze Moses
Okafor Ngele who was made king on 16th December, 2011, described the
court ruling as victory for the people of Ishiagu and commended the
judiciary for discharging its responsibility without bias, prejudice
and hypocrisy.
“People should know that nobody fights for traditional stool; once you
are chosen by God and the people are behind you, there is no battle
you cannot surmount. People should stop taking matters of tradition to
the court. I want to advise politicians to focus on their activities
in government and stop interfering with the tradition of their area.
By this ruling, I remain the Agu III of Ishiagu Kingdom”.
Meanwhile, Ishiagu Council of Elders, in Ivo Local government area of
Ebonyi state has reaffirmed that no group of persons can reverse the
selection and installations of Eze Moses Okafor Ngele as the Agu
III-elect of Ishiagu Kingdom.
In a statement by the Chairman, Ishiagu Accredited Council of Elders,
Chief Ubani Okoro, Acting Traditional Prime Minister, Chief Isaac
Chukwu, Chairman, Ishiagu Traditional Advisory Committee, Chief
Patrick Ajah Eni and Secretary Ishiagu Traditional Affairs, Fred Ume
Orsi, the Council of Elders called on members of the public to be wary
of politicians or groups in the state who are busy fanning the ember
controversy at it concerned the traditional rulership of Ishiagu
kingdom.
