Idris Ahmed, Lokoja.
A Kogi State High Court sitting in Idah, presided over by Justice F. Ajayi, has ruled that the Eje of Ofu, Chief James Abalaka and his Ugwolalwo counterpart, Chief Gabriel Igono Attai to vacate their seats as traditional rulers.
Justice Ajayi in his ruling said that the recommendation of Mr. Gabriel Attai Igonoh for the stool of Onu District Head of Ugwolawo by the Attah Igala, HRM Michael Ameh Oboni was unconstitutional, null and void as it is contrary to provisions of the Kogi State Chiefs Law, No 23 of 2006.
The court also quashed the appointment of Mr. Igonoh by the Kogi State Government following discovery that he is not a member of any of the four ruling houses.
In a suit number IDHC/18/2018 between Prince Usman Atodo Atabo, as claimant, and Gabriel Attai Igono, Ata Igala, Kogi State Attorney General and Kogi State Governor, as defendants, Justice Ajayi, stated that ,” it has been established that he is not a member of any of the four ruling houses in Igala chiefdom, having emanated from the lineage of Aga, a female angle of Aju Ocholi dynasty.”
In a similar development, the Eje of Ofu and Chairman Ofu Traditional Council, Chief James Abalaka was removed by Kogi State High Court, Anyigba, presided over by Justice Rukayat Ayoola.
Justice Ayoola ruled that that the appointment of Chief Abalaka as Eje of Ofu was in total disregard of the provisions of Sections 3 and 4 of Kogi State Chieftaincy Law No. 23 of 2006.
The court ruled that Akwu Obaje is the rightful person to be appointed Eje of Ofu Local Government Area having been nominated and recommended by the four ruling houses.
The court also ruled that Chief James Abalaka, who was endorsed by Chief Akwu Obaje and not by the committee of the four ruling houses and is therefore not a qualified person to be appointed as Eje of Ofu local Government Area.
The court gave an order setting aside the recommendation by the Atta Igala and the state Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and the subsequent appointment of Chief James Abalaka by Kogi State Government; and gave an order of perpetual injunction restraining Chief James Abalaka from parading himself as Eje of Ofu Local Government Area.
The court also gave an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs from appointing any other person than Chief Akwu Obaje as Eje of Ofu as the court also set aside the appointment of Chief James Abalaka by the state government through the ministry.
The court eventually directed the Atta Igala and Kogi State Government to appoint Chief Akwu Obaje as Eje of Ofu Local Government Area. The Eje and his co-defendants have 90 days within which to appeal against the judgement.
Chief Abalaka has eventually lost his seat as Eje of Ofu as his Stay of Execution Suit No. AYHC/31m/2020 was dismissed in the court’s ruling.
