By Chimaobi Nwaiwu, NNEWI
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Chief Chuks Moumah, yesterday explained that he led the Ezumeri village in Orifite town, Ekwusigo Local Government Area Anambra State to Court to contest the denial of his village the chance to produce the traditional ruler of the town, not because he wants to be a traditional ruler but because they want to salvage and redeem their image of the village.
Addressing newsmen shortly before the community’s celebration of their victory in the 18 years old Court battle over which village in Oraifite, should rightly produce the traditional ruler of o
Oraifitecommunity, Chief Muomah, said that Ezumeri village is the most senior village in Oraifite, but is treated with contempt because others feel we are not rich and don’t have eminent people to speak for them. We went for ‘Ogu ariri’ (Insult motivated battle)
An Nnewi High Court presided over by Honourable Justice Dennis Maduechesi had on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, in more than two hours judgement, awarded victory to Ezumeri village in a Suit with No. HN/216/2006, they filed in 2006, asking the Court to determine which of the villages among the four quarters of Oraifite, should produce the traditional ruler of the town.
However, addressing newsmen while surrounded by the President General of Ezumeri village, Chief Obiora Offor, a philanthropist in the town, Chief Charles Moumah, custodian of Ezumeri tradition, Ezeana Ugo Ezumeri, Chief Chukwunonyelum Ezenwenam, Ofor stick holder in Ezumeri, Nze Nonso Udeh, and Iyesele of Ezumeri, Sir Oseloka Offor, Chief Muomah, said that they have been treated by other Oraifite communities with contempt because they decided to allow their younger Oraifite villages to get the first slot of the Igweship seat because they were not ready then.
“We concede the Igwe seat to other villages younger to us they were desperate and ready to take the responsibilities involved, then some of the people from Ezumeri, who could have ascended the throne, including my humble self were fresh graduated from England who were not ready to take up such traditional responsibilities.
We did not just concede the seat orally, it was written and the agreement was submitted in the Court, and the Anambra Chieftaincy Edict did not make the Igweship stool hereditary but rotatory, if you take you allow others to take, so when it became out to turn some people who feel they have money felt that we cannot assume the throne and we said if we don’t have money we have the law, and it was this Court battle that we have been engaged since 18 years that we are celebrating its victory.
“You have four people eating from a plate with four meat, equity demands that you take one and allow others to take, but one person took him and confiscated the plate and tried to run away with it so that others will not take and he was pursued and the plate collected from him, that is exactly what has happened today in Oraifite, they took their turn of the Igwe seat and when it was other villages turn they want to make it hereditary and we said no, and went to court, they said we are nobody and cannot do anything, but the law has told them we are somebody and can do something. We are happy to celebrate the landmark court judgement today.
“Truth is not determined by how much money you have or the people you know, the law is the law, you cannot bend it, richness and population are immaterial in law, rather it is evidence and facts that are important in law, that was one of the reasons we went to court. We fought this legal battle for 18 year because we are law-abiding and want peace in Oraifite and after 18 years Ezumeri village has been able to recover what is due to them. It was an image salvaging and redeeming battle, and am happy I led the legal battle. I thank our people for their support and patience while the case lasted.”
Addressing members of the Ezumeri at their Obi’s square, President General if the village Chief Offor said that they are celebrating the court victory because posterity would have asked them questions if they folded their hands and kept quiet because they are assumed not to have rich and eminent people to speak for them.
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