The Mbume clan in Cross River State’s Etung LGA has urged Governor Bassey Otu to uphold the court’s decision and restore His Royal Majesty HRM, Ntufam Dr. Oru Ojong as the region’s supreme leader.
They voiced concern over the state government’s apparent lack of interest in carrying out court orders, which prevents the monarch from ascending to the throne.
On March 14, 2023, the Càlabar High Court, led over by Justice Elias Abia, issued an order requesting the state administration to restore the monarchy.
After a lawsuit between the former council chairman for the Etung LGA, Ntufam John Nkom, and the Etung Paramount Ruler HRM Ntufam Dr. Oru Ojong was filed in court in suit no. HC/96/2022, he had been suspended by the Ben Ayade government.
This came after a petition by John Nkom, the outgoing council chairman for Etung LGA, accused the king of stealing N12.5 million intended for the Cocoa landowner communities.
The supreme ruler was later cleared by a commission that the state government appointed, but the monarch has not yet been restored.
To break the deadlock, the Mbume stakeholders have gathered at Bendeghe Ekiem Town Council Hall in Etung LGA.
The supreme monarch was to be immediately reinstalled, as per the traditional leaders’ decisions, despite the fact that the government delayed despite their claims to the contrary.
Fabian Emmanghe, a spokesperson for the Mbume clan and the village chief of Mkpage Nyarinka, Etomi community, and Ntufam Odu Ndep, a representative of the Bendeghe Ekiem community, urged the government to restore the monarchy.
They issued a warning that it was risky for someone else to parade as the supreme monarch while the incumbent was still alive.
When a traditional ruler is still living, you don’t remove him and let someone else parade as the supreme monarch.
We are not allowed to have two paramount rulers at once. The same ship cannot be steered by two captains. He went to court after his suspension and won a favorable decision, but the verdict was never carried out.
“We also demand the state government work with the chairman of the Cross River State Traditional Rulers’ Council to restore the paramount ruler.”
Elvis Ebuta and Takon Mgbe, the respective youth presidents of the Abia Bendeghe Ekiem villages, pleaded with the governor to follow the court’s ruling.
This will stop the local government area from being torn apart, they claimed.