By Nwajiobi Ijeoma 9news Nigeria, Nnewi
An Anambra High Court sitting at Nnewi and Presided over by Hon. Justice B.A. Ogbuli, has sacked Dr. Gregory Nwokaha from parading himself as the Oluoha (traditional ruler) of Mbosi. Ihiala Local Government Area.
The court also declared that the Oluoha stool of Mbosi is rotational among the three quarters of Mbosi and not a hereditary right of any quarters or village in Mbosi community
The judge further declared that, “I declare that it is the turn of Ihiteoha quarters of Mbosi comprising, Ubahinnaka, Ogwugwuekwe, Umuezike and Agunnaga villages to present the next Oluoha (traditional ruler) of Mbosi.
“The 1st defendant (Dr.Gregory Nwokaha) is hereby restrained from parading himself as Igwe Oluoha-elect or Igwe Oluoha of Mbosi on the basis of the purported election/selection made by Ichie Peter Okafor and Mr Cyril Mbachu respectively, (1st set of defendants), on 27/04/2023”.
However no cost was awarded to both the plaintiffs and defendants by the Presiding judge.
The judge handed down the judgment after hearing the submissions of counsels to the paintiffs/defendants and citing some legal authorities to back up his judgment.
Smart Obi Esq was for the plaintiffs, A.C. Obiajulu Esq (with C.M. Obijagwam Esq) for the 1st -4th defendants and A.C. Anaenugwu Esq. SAN (with N.D. Nnodum Esq and P.C. Afuba Esq), for the 5th and 6th defendants.
Recall that the 2nd set of defendants in the suit, Ozo Augustine Onyekwere and Mr Aloysius Eze, (for themselves and on behalf of members of Umueze village. Isu-Mbosi quarters. Mbosi), during the hearing of the suit, told the court that the Oluoha stool of Mbosi was hereditary and not rotational and only people of Umueze (descendants of Dara Ezenyi) are enthroned Oluoha of Mbosi.
They averred also that one late Okwereogu from Mkpo Ehihe village Mbosi, was never an Oluoha but a tax collector who was convicted in 1917 by the customary court Oguga Ihiala, over alleged misappropriation of tax collected by him and extortion.
The Presiding judge while reacting to the said imprisonment of Okwereogu in his judgment said. “No doubt. Okwereogu might have been a warrant chief and imprisoned by the government but that did not make him any less a traditional ruler of Mbosi.
“In exhibit D23, at the last page, he was referred to as ‘Head Chief’, who was imprisoned for extortion in April 1917,” the judge recalled.
The plaintiffs in the suit included, Chief P. C. Adione, Mr. Titus Afumire (for themselves and on behalf of members of Ubahinnaka village, Ihite quarters, Mbosi, Ihiala local Government Area),
Other plaintiffs were, Ichie Christopher Muoka Obijekwu, Mr Celestine Nwachukwu (for themselves and on behalf of members of Ogwugwuekwe village. Ihiteoha quarters. Mbosi. Ihiala Local Govt Area), Ichie Simon Udegbe and sir G.O.C. Obiwulu(for themselves and on behalf of members of Agwunnagu village. Ihiteoha quarters, Mbosi Ihiala local govt Area).
Fielding questions from newsmen outside the court hall shortly after the judge delivered his judgment, an indigene of Mbosi, Okeke Nwachukwu, said it was an abomination for the descendants of Okwereogu to organise remembrance ceremony for Okwereogu, having been a convict over criminal act.
“They can’t deceive the people of Mbosi and entire Ihiala people with their remembrance ceremony distraction because we know their history,” Okeke alleged.
