PATS-ACHOLONU, JCA (Delivering the Lead Judgment): This is an appeal against the judgment of the High Court of Imo State in respect of a Chieftaincy dispute about the Chieftaincy Stool of the Traditional Ruler of Umuezegwu Autonomous Community of Ihitte-Uboma Local Government Area of Imo State.
The stool became vacant on the death of the former traditional ruler, one Eze David Oguchukwu Aligwekwe in 1989. The plaintiff’s case is that hitherto before the creation of the Umuezegwu Autonomous Community, the Traditional Ruler was Eze Aligwekwe who continued to be the same after the split of the former Autonomous Community of Ihitte until his death in 1989 at which time the stool became vacant. It is averred that the 1st plaintiff/respondent was identified, selected and appointed and installed the Eze of the Community by the Community on 6/6/92. He was later presented to the Chief Executive of Ihitte-Uboma Local Government (the 5th defendant).
It is the case of the plaintiffs/respondents…