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Chieftaincy Stool: Court Confirms Lawyer As Eze Epara Rebisi
A Port Harcourt High Court in Rivers State has confirmed a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Port Harcourt Branch and a practising lawyer, Barrister Uche Isaiah Elikwu as the Eze Epara Rebisi.
The title is a first class chieftaincy stool in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of the state.
The court said Barrister Isaiah Elikwu was the rightful person to occupy the position of Eze Epara Rebisi because his coronation and selection passed due process in accordance with Rebisi custom and chieftaincy protocols.
Delivering his judgment on the suit brought by Chief Emeka Anyabelem bordering on the selection and coronation of the new Eze Epara Rebisi, Justice Monima Danagogo, last Monday, held that the Owhor holders and chiefs that make up the entire Rebisi Clan participated in the selection and recognition of the new regent.
He argued that their participation was an affirmation that he was chosen by the people, saying that it was wrong for Elder Mirina Kwuru E. Woluchem to personally coronate Prince Victor Woluchem as Eze Epara Rebisi without other Owhor holders and chiefs from the area.
Justice Danagogo further held that based on evidence tendered before the court, it was the exclusive rights of members of the Oro-Olozu and Woyeoma families to produce a king for the Rebisi stool as the paramount ruler of the kingdom.
The trial judge directed the state government to, through the Ministry of the Chieftaincy and Community Affairs recognise Barrister Uche Isaiah Elikwu and issue him with certificate of recognition as well as staff of office without further delay.
The judge dismissed all the reliefs sought by the claimant in the suit, Chief Emeka Anyabelem of Oroworukwo community and the first defendant in the matter.
Justice Danagogo said the installation of Victor Woluchem was a gross violation of the tradition and custom of Ikwerre people, especially the Rebisi people, adding that the claimant wrongfully represented the Oroworukwo community in the matter because he did not have their consent to do so.
He averred that the Oroworukwo community, where the claimant comes from are not part of the inheritance of the stool as explained during the pendency of the case, and issued a perpetual injunction restraining the claimant and the first defendant from parading themselves as the paramount ruler of the Rebisi Kingdom.
The Tide reports that Justice T.S. Orji who was the first judge to handle the case had issued a preservative order restraining the state government from recognising any of the defendants contending for the Eze Apara Rebisi stool before the determination of the substantive suit before the court.
Justice Orji further ordered the parties, including the state government to maintain the status quo in the matter until the matter was heard on its merit.
Following the information brought before the court by the Claimant Counsel, James Ocholi (SAN) notifying the court that the state government had purportedly recognised Prince Victor Woluchem as the heir apparent to the throne, Justice Orji maintained that since the inception of the suit, the court had taken possession of the stool under litigation, adding that the court would release it to the rightful owner at the end of the trial.
According to her, “any pronouncement made by the state governor should not worry anybody but at the end of the day, the pronouncement of the court stands”.
The trial judge, while ordering the claimant’s counsel to serve a fresh notice to the 9th and 10th defendants, added that the court has taken its position in the matter.
Again, in 2017, the court, presided over by Justice Monima Danagogo confirmed the court order on the removal of Prince Victor Woluchem as the paramount ruler of Rebisi.
Justice Danagogo also said that the court order remained sacrosanct and cannot be vacated pending the determination of the substantive suit before it, and added that the decision of the court in this order is to protect the integrity of the court as well as promote confidence among all the parties involved in the matter.
The trial judge made the assertion while ruling on an application of stay of execution brought by the 1st Defendant, Prince Victor Woluchem through his lawyer, O.C.J. Okocha (SAN), which he asked the court to set aside its earlier order that restrained him from parading as Eze Apara Rebisi Kingdom.
However, Justice Danagogo, in his ruling in 2016, had refused the application of stay of execution, and added that in so doing, the court would jeopardise the case as well as lose its integrity.
According to him, the court order made on November 21, 2016, was to validate and revive the order me by Justice T. S. Orji in April, 2014, where she restrained all parties in the matter, and urged them to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the case before the court.
The suit was instituted by Chief Emeka Anyabelem and Elder Boniface Wechie for themselves and on behalf of Oroworukwo Community in Rebisi Kingdom seeking for an interlocutory injunction restraining the 1st-8th defendants and their servants, agents, privies and cohorts from choosing, selecting, presenting, parading or allowing any candidate from Oro-Olozu Community for coronation as the Eze Apara Rebisi pending the determination of the substantive suit.
Those in the suit are Elder Mirina Kwuru E. Woluchem, Prince Victor Woluchem, Chief Emmanuel Onyeche Chike, Chief Adolphus Ezebunwo Amadi, Sir Cyril Wobo Boms, Elder Godspower Nna Elikwu, Mr. Chikere Elikwu, Chief Anthony Worlu Akarolo, Chief Charles A.S. Woke Olawoka and the Rivers State Government.
By: Akujobi Amadi
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.