Akwa Ibom State High Court in Uyo has given an order restraining paramount rulers in Akwa Ibom State from interfering in the selection of family heads in the state.
The court gave the order on Friday while delivering judgment in a case between Chief Ezekiel Effiong Japhet and three other members of Nung Atum family of Nung Ukot Itam in Itu Local Government Area, as claimants and Chief Bassey Udo Edem and Edidem Edet Akpan Inyang, the paramount ruler of Itu Local Government Area as defendants.
In an one hour judgment, the court presided over by Justice Ntong Ntong perpetually restrained the Paramount Ruler of Itu, Edidem Edet Akpan Inyang from interfering and imposing any person as family head of Nung Atum family.
The court declared the first claimant, Chief Ezekiel Effiong Japhet, having been elected and selected by the family members of Nung Atum family, remains the family head of Nung Atum family.
It said under the traditional rulers system in Akwa Ibom State, the paramount ruler is at the zenith of the leadership, hence the issue of family headship will be too infinitesimal for his involvement.
Justice Ntong also held that family headship was not a political office, but a sole duty of a family to select who should lead them, according to their laid-down tradition and customs.
He said upon selection, it is only the village head that ought to issue the family head with a certificate of recognition and not the paramount ruler or clan head.
Justice Ntong also said to engender peace and unity in communities, the proper line of communication should be from the family head to the village head, village head to the clan head, clan head to the paramount ruler and paramount ruler to the state government through the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
The court further held that the law does not recognize chairman of village council, presidents or chairmen of village youths council, advising Akwa Ibom State Government to be cautious of the new trend that is bedeviling almost all the communities in the state thereby causing restiveness and creating parallel administrations in many villages.
He said, “It is trite that no court will be friendly with illegality. The second defendant’s (the paramount Ruler) interference with the family meeting and family decision of Nung Atum family is illegal and uncalled for. It is unwholesome and opprobrious. And because his action can create an ugly precedent for others in Akwa Ibom State in particular and Nigeria in general, this Court will bluntly refuse to glorify it. This Court will resist any attempt to be dragged into accentuating any form of illegality.”