Court sacks Obong of Calabar

Orders the Obong Council to begin selection process for a new Obong

A Calabar High Court has sacked the Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, and restrained him from parading himself as the Efik traditional ruler until a proper selection has been done.
It will be recalled that in April 2008, a Former Minister of Finance, Anthony Ani, and four others sued the Obong and seven others to challenge the verdict of the Etuboms Council in the selection and proclamation of  Otu  as the Obong of Calabar.

Ani had, in his claim, sought a declaration that the "presentation and selection of the fourth defendant (Otu) is contrary to natural justice, equity and good conscience" and another declaration that the Etuboms Traditional Rulers Council’s refusal to entertain his complaint violated his right to fair hearing.
He also prayed the court for an injunction restraining the government from recognising or giving a staff of office to Obong.

While the sacked Obong's counsel, Ladi Williams, who was represented by Rebecca Tanga, asked the court to dismiss the Ani's claims on the grounds that he was not qualified to be the Obong of Calabar and he had been given fair hearing during the selection process.
In a two-hour judgement delivered by the presiding judge, Obonjor Ogar, the court urged the Obong Council to commence the process of selecting a new Obong.