Two brothers, Kenneth and Hyacinth Nwiboko of Ndiebor, Ishieke Community in Ebonyi Local Government Area are in court over who will become the traditional ruler of their community.
They appeared before an Abakaliki High Court yesterday in the matter between them, Kenneth as the plaintiff and Hyacinth, as the first defendant, with Mathias Adum, second defendant.
The defendants also include the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Chieftaincy Matters and Rural Development, Uchenna Igwe, who is the fifth defendant, while the third and fourth defendants are James Ndieze and Bernard Oroke.
The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, recalls that the community had sometime in April 2024, set up a committee for the kingship.
The committee conducted a screening which the plaintiff, Kenneth, attended and participated with other candidates from other families and he was successful.
After the exercise, the committee resolved that the family of Late Nwiboko Obodo should produce the credible and qualified candidate for the position of traditional duler of Ndiebor Ishieke Community and Kenneth was successfully selected.
The tussle started when some groups in the community purportedly selected the first defendant, Hyacinth, who never presented himself to the committee as their choice candidate.
Counsel to the Plaintiff, Mr Ikechukwu Ogbuewu, said the first defendant, Hyacinth, did not participate in the screening or selected for the kingship.
“The first defendant has never gone to school and thus not a holder of any academic certificate of any level, which is one of the basic requirements for the position of the traditional ruler of Ndiebor Ishieke Community.
“Without due process, the first defendant, Hyacinth was selected and installed as the traditional ruler of the community instead of the plaintiff, Kenneth, who is challenging the actions.
NAN reports that the Counsel to Igwe, State Commissioner for Chieftaincy Matters and Rural Development, who is the fifth defendant was absent in court.
Counsel to the first and second defendants and Ogbuewu, Luke Amaga, thanked the judge for the accelerated hearing.
The presiding judge, Justice Henry Njoku, advised that it would be better to settle the matter in the community.
Njoku, however, adjourned the matter until June 18 for hearing. NAN
