ROYAL RUMBLE IN OGWASHI-UKU AS KINGSHIP STOOL COMES UNDER SCRUTINY AT PANEL OF INQUIRY

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Two senior members of the Ogwashi-Uku Royal Family , Prince Nathan Okonjo and Prince Ikechukwu Okonjo, have challenged the eligibility of Obi Ifechukwude Aninshi Okonjo to the throne. 

The duo made the remark while giving Evidence – in – Chief at the just concluded panel of inquiry into the Ogwashi-Uku Kingship tussle and land disputes within Ogwashi-Uku and neighboring communities. 

Prince Nathan Okonjo, who filed a petition against the incumbent monarch said Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo was not the rightful king to the throne by virtue of the fact that he was neither the first nor the second male child of late Obi Prof. Chukwuka Okonjo. 

Led in evidence by his Counsel, Simion Ngbakor Esq., Prince Nathan Okonjo told the Panel of Inquiry that ascension to the Ogwashi-Uku throne was through the principle of primogeniture, adding that if the principle was followed to the later, neither Obi Ifechukwude nor his predecessor would have been king because their lineage was not entitled to the throne. 

The witness went down memory lane and gave the historical lineage to the throne, explaining that the last legitimate king by primogeniture was king Obahan, after whose reign the system was jettisoned and selection of kings became the order of the day till date. 

Under cross examination by Counsel to Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo, Prince Chike Onyemenam, SAN, the witness admitted that Hon. Justice A.O Maidoh of the State High Court had, in Suit no 014 / 2001 dismissed the suit challenging the qualification of Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo to the throne. 

Prince Nathan Okonjo also admitted that the appeal in respect of the case had been fixed for 15 January , 2025 where in he prayed the Court of Appeal to set aside the High Court judgement of 2001 and recognize him as the rightful king. 

Both the High Court judgement and suit pending at the Court of Appeal were tendered and admitted as exhibits. 

In another cross examination by Albert Akpmudje, SAN, Counsel to Prince Ikechukwu Okonjo, another claimant to the throne, reiterated that the kingship tussle centered on the question of eligibility, insisting that the current occupant of the stool was not the rightful king by virtue of the fact that he was neither the first nor the second but a distant third male child of the late Ogwashi-Uku monarch. 

He also agreed with Albert Akpomudje, SAN, that under Ogwashi-Uku native law and custom, a convict cannot be crowned a king, particularly when the conviction was by a Court of competent jurisdiction whether in Nigeria or abroad.

A copy of the alleged conviction by a Montgomery  County Court in Marry Land, USA, was also tendered by Albert Akpomudje, SAN, and admitted as exhibit. 

Giving evidence in another suit challenging the right of the current Obi to the throne, the elder brother of Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo and second son of the late Prof Chukwuka Okonjo, Prince Ikechukwu Okonjo, explained that he was sidelined in the selection process to the throne, adding that in the absence of the first born he ought to have been crowned as the king. 

He adopted his written deposition and affidavits and tendered same as exhibits before the Commission to substantiate his claim as the authentic and rightful king. 

The witness admitted that a suit challenging the incumbent king was pending at a State High Court, having been transmitted from the Supreme Court for retrial at the High Court, expressing optimism that he would reclaim his throne at the end of the day.

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