By hector obinna
That National Council of Traditional Rulers in Nigeria, the Apex body of Traditional Institution in Nigeria with membership drawn from the 36 states and FCT under the co-chairmanship of His Eminence, Alhaji (Dr) Muhammad Saad Abubakar CFR, mni, Sultan of Sokoto and His Imperial Majesty, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, in a meeting at Sokoto recently warned State Governors who do not give respect to constituted authorities, especially rampant disregards to court orders in the Land.
In its General meeting which was declared open by the President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, who was represented by his Vice, Arch Muhammad Namadi Sambo, the Traditional Rulers raised the issue of the contentious running battle between the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and the Chairman of Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, even after he had been restored back to office through a court judgment.
The renowned Monarchs in their Communiqué stated that the National Council of Traditional Rulers at its 6th General Assembly “Observed with great concern the abuse of Executive powers by some public officials in positions of Executive authority, while noting with particular reference the case of Imo State where the State Government has continued to frustrate the wishes of the State Council of Traditional Rulers in the state after judicial pronouncements in favour of the State Council of Traditional Rulers”.
They expressed worry, and “solicited the minimal interference of political elite in affairs of Traditional Institution” and further urged them to “respect the pronouncements of the Judiciary by observing the rule of Law”.
Meanwhile, determined to sanitize the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, the Chairman, HRH Eze (Dr.) Cletus Ilomuanya, may have concluded plans with security agencies to initiate the arrest and prosecution of any traditional ruler in Imo State, found to be convening or attending any meeting of traditional rulers in the State not authorized by him or convened without his consent.
Under this arrangement, such a traditional ruler, on running foul of the Court of Appeal judgment of July 5, 2013, will be arrested and whisked off to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory for questioning. The Abuja angle, it was gathered, is to avoid unnecessary interference in the matter.
Informing the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command vide a letter, about his displeasure at the manner he was being impersonated while traditional rulers were lured to attend unlawful meetings in the State, Eze Ilomuanya warned that “if such unlawful meetings are not stopped and the conveners arrested and prosecuted, it may precipitate a break of law and order in the state.”
Eze Ilomuanya`s latest move comes on the heels of the demand by his legal counsel, Obiora Obianwu, SAN, demanding full compliance with the Court of Appeal judgment which reinstated the monarch as Chairman of the Imo State Council of Ndieze.
In a letter to the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Imo State, dated November 4, 2013 and titled “Continuing Disobedience to the Judgment of the Court of Appeal in CA/OW/128/2012,” the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) averred that “it is only an irresponsible government that can treat judgments of court with levity and disdain.”
He reminded the Imo State Attorney General, who was a co-defendant in the suit under reference, that it is regrettable that both himself (AG) and Governor Rochas Okorocha have refused to comply with the order of the court which they are aware of. He said the ugly incident of Monday, September 16, 2013, in which Eze Ilomuanya was barred from gaining entrance into his office by the police acting on the instructions of Governor Okorocha, is reprehensible and a slap on Nigeria`s judiciary.
Obianwu maintained that the Court of Appeal judgment is sacrosanct and advised the Attorney General to accordingly advice the Governor to do the right thing and allow Eze Illomuanya resume duties as Chairman of Imo State Council of Ndieze, in the interest of peace and obedience to the rule of law.
