An Edo State High Court has stopped the installation of Chief Luke Abbas as the Eze Ndigbo of Edo State.
The court ordered Police Commissioner Chris Ezike to stop Abbas’ installation.
Justice A. Edodo-Eruaga gave the order, following an ex parte motion by Chief Fecus Ezekwere and two others on behalf of the Igbo community’s union in the state.
In its ruling, the court granted an interim injunction restraining Abbas from presenting himself to Eze Nwosu Ibe for installation as the Eze Ndigbo.
Justice Edodo-Eruaga granted the injunction restraining Ibe and his agents from installing Abbas as the Eze Ndigbo, pending the determination of the motion on notice.
The court also gave an order of interim injunction restraining the police commissioner from “permitting or allowing Ibe and Abbas to assemble at Abbas’s home for the purpose of installing him as the Eze Ndigbo of Edo State”.
The case was adjourned till December 22 for hearing of the motion on notice.
END
For immediate Press Release
Edos Worldwide Condemn Attempt to install Eze Igbo in Benin
Edo Arts and Cultural Heritage Institute (EACHI), Concerned Edos in the America, and Edo Heritage in Benin City on reading the news published in Nigeria Vanguard Online of November Nov 23, 2015, titled “High court stops Eze Ndigbo installation process in Benin” held several meetings and tel-conferences in order to rationalize the sudden unwarranted action by the Ndigbos in Edo land to abuse the hospitality of Edo people. The members view the attempt to install Eze Ndigbo, another monarch in the ancient city of Benin as a sacrilege on Edo culture. Also, from reading the writ filed by the Ndigbo litigants with the court in Benin City, it is apparent that plan has reached an advanced stage to secretly install an Eze Ndigbo, a surprise to many Edos. At the end of the conferences, the group resolved as follows:
• Being interested party we seek to join in the suit in protection of our cultural interest in the matter.
• Call on the Ndigbo to immediately retrace their selves from the ill-advised and provocative direction of bid to install an Eze Ndigbo in Benin city or any other part of Edo State.
• Finally, urge the Ndigbo community to practice good citizenship in Edo lands and also pleads with all Edo people to exercise restraint and allow the Judiciary resolves this issue legally.
Edo since independence has been a uniting force for Nigeria, even when others sought to dismantle her and we will continue to play that role. Edos have always embraced all other ethnic groups with open arms subject to good behavior and will continue to play that role. However, the current attempt by some Ndigbo to abuse Edos hospitality is unacceptable. Currently, Nigeria has enough ethnic tension and therefore all patriotic Nigerians are urged to condemn this act of provocation. We also encourage all Nigerians to promote ethnic harmony, a necessary ingredient for unity and stability of Nigeria.
Finally, we call Edo sons and daughters to be at alert even while remaining calm and law abiding.
Issued by
Coordination Center
Edo Arts and Cultural Heritage Institute (EACHI)
3053 Turnberry Lane, Ann Arbor, MI 48108, USA
Phone: 312-771-7227, 734-973-6844. Fax: 734-973-6844
E-Mail: eachi1@yahoo.com
Edo state should not allow the installation of any other king in the state. If this happens, the influence of the Edo monarchy will be eroded. Most Yoruba states do not allow for double monarchy.