CHIEF NNAMUZIE OBI & 2 ORS. FOR THEMSELVES AND NO BEHALF OF THE MEMBERS OF UHUBOM NA UHUOWELLE VILLAGES OF OKIJA AND THE ENTIRE MEMBERS OF OKIJA COMMUNITY EXCLUDING THE DEFENDANT. V. BEN ILOKWU OKEKE

ALAGOA JCA (Delivering the Lead Judgment): At the High Court of Justice, Ihiala, in the Ihiala Judicial Division of Anambra State of Nigeria, the appellants as plaintiffs claimed against the respondent as defendant as follows: A declaration that the defendant is not the rightful person to be installed as the Igwe of the Okija Community and his conduct of parading himself as the traditional ruler of Okija is contrary to the Okija Chieftaincy Constitution and Code of Conduct (Revised and Amended, 1994) and contrary to the Traditional Rulers Law, No. 14 of 1981. A declaration that the Okija Chieftaincy Constitution and Codeof Conduct (Revised and Amended), 1994 is the operational document which binds the defendant and any other contestant for the traditional rulership of Okija. A declaration that the condition precedent for the selection of a new traditional ruler of Okija has not been fulfilled to enable the defendant or anyone interested in the traditional rulership to be installed o…