From Magnus Eze, Enugu

The presiding Judge of High Court 1, Afikpo, Ebonyi State, Justice Vincent Nwanchor, has sternly warned parties in the legal tussle over the allegedly subverted Ezeogo Itim selection exercise, to respect court orders for the interest of quick dispensation of justice.

Issuing the warning at the court sitting on December 14, 2023, Justice Nwanchor was particularly miffed when counsel to the plaintiff, Mike Inya Igbo, informed the court that one of the parties in the tussle, Mr. Mbe Chukwu, had continued to parade himself as the Ezeogo, thus ignoring his Lordship’s earlier warning to that effect. 

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The court had, on October 10, 2023, warned the counsels to advise their clients to stay further action on the Ezeogo matter as it was already before it for determination. The judge re emphasised that anyone caught parading himself as the Ezeogo Itim autonomous community would not be spared.

The case was adjourned to January 30, 2024, when a hearing is expected to open on the matter.   

It was alleged that some highly placed government functionaries from Afikpo LGA had, on September 9, 2023, stormed Ogo Mgbom, venue of the selection exercise, with heavily armed personnel and physically took over the conduct of the process with the aim of imposing their candidate, Mr. Mbe Chukwu, on the people as the Ezeogo Itim.