The Federal High Court, Awka, Anambra State Is expected to give judgment in the over 1000 year old Eze-Nri succession dispute in Nri Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Nri has the oldest known kingship in Nigeria dated about 900 AD. The community is made up of Akamkpisi -Diodo Section made up of Uruofolo, Ekwenanyija and Diodo while Agukwu Section has Obeagu, Uruoji and Agbana.
Over the years, Eze-Nri stool is dominated by and rotated among the three villages of Agukwu exclusively. An Agukwu version claims that the rotation is due to curse placed on children and village of Nri Namoke the 7th who was said to have been abandoned by his children except his grandson, Nribuife from Agukwu Section when he contracted seeming incurable disease.
According to the version, Nri Namoke, the 7th miraculously survived but his children and village had abandoned him, and he handed his paraphernalia of throne to Nribuife while placing curse on his children and village that the crown had abandoned them as they abandoned him and whoever would violate his vow would face the dire consequences.
It was learnt that the three villages, Agukwu Section rotationally capitalised in the said vow to take exclusive control of succession to the throne until lately when the Nri Progress Union (NPU) abrogated the curse and allowed Akamkpisi – Diodo Section to participate in the town union matters only.
However, moves by Akamkpisi-Diodo Section to contest the Eze-Nri kingship was rebuffed leading to court action on the ground that it is tantamount to violation of human rights not to allow Akamkpisi -Diodo to contest the kingship stool without discrimination.
Consequently, an application for enforcement of fundamental human rights was filed by representatives of Akampisi-Diodo against Agukwu Section of Nri and other stakeholders in the public service.
The Suit No. FHC/AWK/ CS/15/2025 was filed by Godwin Uzoegbo, Emenike Ikegbule, Chizoba Nwokoye Esp., Bony Okoli, Nnoli Nwakor, James Okonkwo, Marcel Enujugha and Emma Okonkwo are the plaintiffs.
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