A Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, has restored High Alloy Obi, as the Eze Onyendu Ndigbo of Oyo State.
The appeal Court headed by Justice Ita Mbaba, has Justices M. Danjuma and H.R. Shagari as members.
Our correspondent reports that the appellants in the suit CA/IB/116A/ 2014 are Gary Enwo-Igariwe and HRH Eze C.I. Ilomuanya while the respondents are Chief Joseph Nwigwe, Chief Ndidi Ezeako, Chief Alloy Okwudili Chukwuobi, Adolf Okoli, Andrew Idoko and Felix Igboanugo.
The appeal court in its judgement nullified the decision of the judgement of Oyo State High Court which was delivered by Justice M.A.A. Abass on 18th February, 2014.
The court in its judgement delivered on 31st May, 2024 maintained that the election of Obi as Onyendu Ndigbo in the state on 8th May, 2010 is valid and upheld Obi as Onyendu Ndigbo in the state.
The court added that Obi was elected and not selected by all Igbos in Oyo State under Igbo General Assembly (IGA).
The Court also ruled that all official dealings with Ndigbo in Oyo State should be through the state branch of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
Obi in his reaction, noted that his victory at the Appeal court is not his own personal victory but victory for all Igbos in the state.
Obi made this declaration while addressing a press conference on Thursday in Ibadan.
He said, “I am delighted and honoured to briefly address you all. Permit me to honour my brother Late Dr. Alex Anozie who until his death was a principal actor in the Igbo Leadership tussle in this Oyo State.
“My victory at the Court of Appeal is not just for me as a person, the Appeal Court case lasted for ten years. I would have given up if it were just about me as a person. I remained in the struggle in the last ten years because of the implication on Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, South East Council of Traditional Rulers and Igbo extraction all over the world.
“Today the ruling of the Court of Appeal has fully restored the authority of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and South East Council of Traditional Rulers as parent bodies to regulate the activities of Ndigbo and Igbo Organization Worldwide I hereby use this medium to call on those who are still in opposition to sheath their sword for it is time for enduring peace and togetherness among Ndigbo in Oyo State.
“I promise to be a good and impartial father to Ndigbo and Igbo groups in Oyo State. I want to thank sincerely my team of lawyers led by Lasun Sanusi (SAN) and Barrister Uche Amajo, for a job well done. Their painstaking and dutiful job in handling the case from the High Court is what we are celebrating today. I similarly thank the people of our host community, Ibadan for their support so far. It is a thing of joy for me that throughout the 28 years that the crisis lasted, no life was lost to it as those who died, died natural death.
“I also call on the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Oyo State to put together a sovereign Igbo conference in Oyo State to chat a road map and blue print for a true unity and progress of Ndigbo in Oyo State. On my part, I would work with the leadership of Ohanaeze in the state to put in place a committee that would see to the reconciliation of all parties in the overall interest of the Igbos in Ibadanland and Oyo State in general. I cannot end this address without paying special appreciation to prominent Igbo leaders some of whom are late for the role they played in resolving the crisis at one time or the other.”
ENDS