…As Prince Nwata drags RSG, Nwachukwu Nnam-Obi to Court
By: Emmanuel Nlewedum
The heated controversy over ascendancy into the ancient stool of the Oba of Ogbaland in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government area of Rivers State is gradually tearing the kingdom apart.
Port Harcourt Spectator gathered that trouble started soon after former occupant of the stool, His Eminence, Eze Chukwuemeka Nnam-Obi 11, the Oba of Ogbaland, who ascended the throne in 1972, joined his ancestors and was subsequently buried last year.
Investigation revealed that the stool, which has been in existence for over 400 years, was said to be on rotational successive arrangement with three units/families in Umu-Okoye Kindred – Obi, Nwata, and Onwularu eligible to the throne.
Report has it that the first son of the late Oba, Nwachukwu Nnam-Obi, has already ascended the throne, claiming that it was his right as the first son of the late king, a development that has caused disquiet in the kingdom.
Information made available to this medium has it that Prince Henry Nwata and the Umu-Okoya kindred of Umuebe family in Omoku who are laying claim to produce the next occupant of the stool, has filed a lawsuit before a Rivers State High Court in Omoku to stop Nwachukwu Nnam-Obuoha Obi from parading himself as king.
Prince Nwata in his suit also listed; Governor of Rivers State; River State Ministry of Chieftaincy and Community Affairs; Nigerian Agip Oil Company among others as defendants.
Nwata and others through a writ of summon in suit no, OMHC/20/CS/2022, before the court in Omoku, ONELGA, prayed the court to restrain Nwachukwu from parading himself as the Oba of Ogbaland or acting in that capacity pending the hearing and determination of the case. Also a declaration that the throne and chieftaincy stool of Oba (Eze-Ogba) of Ogbaland is not hereditary.
The claimants are also seeking an order of the court restraining the governor of Rivers State from recognising and or issuing certificate of recognition to Mr. Nwachukwu Nnam-Obuoha Obi (1st defendant) as he is not eligible to ascend and or occupy the stool and throne of Oba (Eze-Ogba) of Ogbaland.
In the meantime, the notice of writ of summon we gathered has been served on the son of the Late Oba of Ogbaland and other defendants.
