Akwa Ibom: Court Restrains Chief Unanaowo  From Parading As  Village Head Of Atibe

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By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo

Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo has restrained one Chief Inam Robson Unanaowo from parading himself as the Village Head of Atibe  in Eket Local Government Area of the state.

The court gave the order on Tuesday in its ruling in a case between Chief Inam Robson Unanaowo and six others on behalf of six families of Atibe Village and the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Obong Unanaowo Udeme Unanaowo.

In the ruling read by the presiding judge, Justice Ntong Ntong, the court said, “Chief Inam Robson Unanaowo was earlier recognized by the Governor as the Village Head of Atibe Village by a letter dated 7th August, 2020 and thereafter, the letter was withdrawn and in his place, the same Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel recognized Chief Unanaowo Udeme Unanaowo as the Village Head of Atibe, in accordance with Section Fifteen of the Traditional Rulers Law of Akwa Ibom State 2000.”

Justice Ntong held that, “since Chief Inam Unanaowo was deposed by the state government and since there ought not to be a parallel administration in Atibe Village, it is fair in the circumstance to restrain Chief Inam Robson Unanaowo from parading himself as the Village Head, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive action.”

Justice Ntong said, “I read thoroughly all the processes and it is a fundamental rule that, the Court will only grant an injunction to support a legal right recognized by law.”

The court said, “there is a serious issue to try in the substantive action to determine, if the Governor of Akwa Ibom State was right in his action.”

He said in the meantime, “the balance of convenience for the time is in favour of the fourth defendant, Chief Unanaowo Udeme Unanaowo, as Atibe Village will not be left like a sheep, without a shepherd.”

According to the court, “there is no need for a vacuum and since the Governor withdrawn the Certificate of Recognition of Chief Inam Robson Unanaowo and bestowed his recognition on Obong Unanaowo Udeme Unanaowo, Chief Unanaowo Udeme Unanaowo shall continue to administer the Atibe Village, pending the determination of the substantive action.”

Justice Ntong said, “it is an offence for a person to hold out himself as a traditional ruler, where the incumbent of that office, has neither died, suspended nor deposed.”

The court has also ordered an accelerated hearing of the substantive suit.

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