By Izunna Okafor, Awka
A parallel traditional ruler of Nawfia in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, Igwe Chijioke Nwankwo, has urged members of the public to disregard what he described as a “blatant lie and unsubstantiated claim” that his rival, Mr. Daniel Obelle, obtained a stay of execution from court to halt the enforcement of the latest ruling on the protracted kingship crisis in the community.
Igwe Nwankwo gave the advice in a statement issued on Friday as a direct refutal of the widespread report claiming that Obelle had secured a stay of execution in his favour.
Recall that the lingering kingship tussle in Nawfia resurfaced over the week following controversies surrounding the proposed new yam festival of Obelle, which drew objections from Nwankwo. The drama was further fuelled by remarks from the State Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon. Tonycollins Nwabunwanne, who insisted that Obelle was the government-recognized monarch with a valid certificate of recognition, and claimed that he had obtained a stay of execution on the matter.
However, reacting to the development on Friday, Igwe Nwankwo, popularly known as “Osuofia II Na Nawfia,” dismissed the Commissioner’s assertion and Obelle’s alleged claim as outright falsehood.
“Public Refute: This is to bring to the attention of the public that no time did Daniel Obelle obtain a stay of execution or was the order of 21st June 2022 EVER overturned. I am prepared to bring all the court proceedings to prove my case. Daniel Obelle is a habitual liar,” Nwankwo wrote in a statement circulated widely on social media platforms.
Speaking further in an interview with this reporter, the embattled monarch maintained that he has verifiable court documents to back his position as the authentic Igwe of Nawfia. He availed this reporter with a certified true copy of a judgment delivered on June 21, 2022, by Justice Peace N.T. Otti of the Anambra State High Court, Awka, which nullified the certificate of recognition issued to Obelle and barred the government from presenting or issuing such certificates to anyone until the substantive suit on the matter is determined.
The ruling, a copy of which Nwankwo provided, expressly set aside the certificate earlier issued to Obelle by former Governor Willie Obiano, describing the action as an abuse of court process, an affront to the rule of law, and an act done in bad faith. It further restrained the state government and its agencies from recognizing or issuing any certificate of recognition to anyone pending the final determination of the substantive case.
The Court held that once a case has been initiated, all parties must refrain from taking any further action until the case is finally determined. The matter before the Court was the legality of former Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano’s withdrawal of the Plaintiff’s Certificate of Recognition as the Igwe of Nawfia.
Despite the case being pending, on 11th March 2022—just six days before leaving office—Obiano issued a new Certificate of Recognition to Mr. Daniel Obele as Traditional Ruler of Nawfia. The Court described this act as being done in bad faith, showing disrespect to the Court, mischievous, and grossly irresponsible, and therefore unacceptable.
Based on this and the precedents cited, the Court ruled in favour of the Plaintiff’s application (Motion No. A/403M/2022) and gave the following orders:
“A order of this Honourable Court is hereby made settling aside the Certificate of Recognition as Igwe or Traditional Ruler of Nawfia issued by the Respondents on 11/3/2022 or any other date, during the pendency of this matter, to one Mr. Daniel Obele or any other person;
“An order of Court is hereby made barring and/or banning the Respondents or any of its agencies and/or organs from recognizing and/or issuing any Certificate of Recognition to anybody whatsoever as the Igwe or Traditional Ruler of Nawfia Town, until the final determination of the substantive Suit on the matter before this Honourable Court;
“An order of this honourable court is hereby made for the immediate withdrawal of the said Certificate of Recognition issued.”
According to Nwankwo, since the case began, he has never received any notice from any court indicating that Obelle obtained a stay of execution. He argued that as the plaintiff in the matter, he ought to have been duly notified if such an order truly existed.
“Even Daniel Obelle, who claimed to have secured a stay of execution, was not a party to the case. The only respondents are the Anambra State Government, the Attorney General of Anambra State, and the State Council of Traditional Rulers. On what ground, and from which court, did he then secure the stay he is boasting about? It is a blatant lie intended to deceive the public,” he said.
The monarch, who succeeded his late father, Igwe F.F.B.C. Nwankwo, following his assassination in 2000, further challenged Obelle to produce a copy of the alleged stay of execution order for public scrutiny. He also threw an open challenge to his rival to a one-on-one public or media debate where they would both present factual and verifiable documents and evidences, and also answer questions before the people of Nawfia and Ndi Anambra at large on their claims to the throne.
“Let him show us the copy of the stay of execution he claims to have. Let us both face the people openly with facts. Enough of these lies and attempts to mislead the public,” he declared.
Concluding, Igwe Nwankwo urged members of the public, especially the people of Nawfia, not to be misled by falsehood or dragged into confusion by individuals parading fraudulent claims. He reassured that the law is on his side, and that justice, though delayed, cannot be denied.
“One thing I know is that truth will always prevail, and justice will always stand, no matter how long it takes,” he concluded.
