Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, the Obong of Calabar, has been overthrown by the Supreme Court.
As a result, the Court has commanded the Traditional Rulers' Council and the Kingmakers to organise a new selection procedure to choose Otu's successor.
Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba presided over the court session that produced the decision on Friday, January 13.
According to reports, the court ruled during the session that the new election should be held in conformity with the palace's 2002 constitution.
The decision followed a lawsuit filed by Etubom Anthony Ani, a former minister of finance, against Otu and other members of the Etuboms' Traditional Council for rejecting the Western Calabar screening procedure.
The court ordered that “the 1st Respondent (Etubom Ani) who admittedly was not capped/inducted into the Etuboms’ Council of the Palace of the Obong by the Obong at the time of the selection process was not traditionally qualified and eligible to vote and be voted for as the Obong of Calabar under Exhibit 1/20.
More shortly…