The Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu on Friday reinstated His Royal Majesty, Igwe Cyril Anayo Anochili, as the traditional ruler of Umuogbuagu Autonomous Community, Ugwuoba, Oji River LGA, Enugu State.

Daily Gazette gathered that Igwe Anochili was removed from his position in 2020 by the state’s High Court.

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Dissatisfied with the High Court’s decision in suit No: HOR/17/2004, Igwe Cyril Anayo Anochili appealed the judgment, seeking its nullification.

Counsel for the respondents, Prof. Zeph Chukwuemeka Ayogu, represented by Barr. Chinedu Achu, urged the appellate court to uphold the trial court’s judgment, which favored Chief Nathan Nwaezenagu Nwangwu, and dismiss the appeal for lacking merit.

Daily Gazette recall that the Court of Appeal had previously quashed an interlocutory application by the appellants’ counsel to submit additional exhibits at appeal, defending the third appellant’s credentials, being Igwe Anochili.

Counsel for the appellant, Sir OAU Onyema, argued that the trial court’s judgment should be voided because it removed a recognized traditional ruler, whose name is in the gazette, without involving the Local Government Secretary, Commissioner for Chieftaincy Matters, Attorney General of the state, or the government of Enugu State.

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“The learned judge erred in law and misdirected himself when he directed that the name of the plaintiff be forwarded to the Governor for recognition/issuance of a certificate. This is because the Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs was not made a party to the suit nor invited to give evidence in the suit.”

“The trial court held that the qualifying certificate for the Igweship position in Enugu is a WASSCE Certificate and that the second defendant obtained a certificate in 2004 after he indicated interest. WASSCE Certificate is not the minimum recognizable qualification for the Igweship in Enugu State. There is no provision in the Enugu State Traditional Rulers Law for a WASSCE certificate or any such certificate. Indication of interest is not the same as being a candidate for election.”

He further argued that “the Government has the power to decide who is qualified or not by virtue of the Traditional Rulers Law of Enugu State 2004. The qualification required of a person to become a traditional ruler is clearly provided in the Traditional Rulers Law CAP 151, Revised Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria, 2004.”

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“The trial court’s inclination to rely on the plaintiff’s counsel on Order 13 Rule 15(1) of the High Court Rules 2006 to oust the issue of non-joinder of the persons named in Section 5 of the Traditional Rulers Law, CAP 151 Revised Laws of Enugu State 2004, being the Governor, Commissioner, and Secretary to the LGA, was erroneously resolved in favor of the plaintiffs; yet an order was made against the people not joined, despite the fact that the ‘contentious issue at stake’ is an act already completed by those not joined, as mentioned herein.”

Sir OAU Onyema maintained that “the trial court awarded reliefs not prayed for by the plaintiffs, by suo moto generating a consequential application, and determining the same in favor of the plaintiffs by saying ‘Following from the orders made above, this court needs to give effect to this judgment by making a consequential order.'”

“The trial court erred in law when it made an order against a non-party to a suit, who had no opportunity to defend himself, being the Governor of Enugu State; hence occasioning a grievous miscarriage of justice.” he argued.

Delivering it’s judgment in the appeal number No: CA.E.115.2020, the presiding judge, Hon. Justice Ridwan Maiwada Abdullahi, overturned the High Court’s judgment delivered on March 16, 2020, by Justice A.A. Nwobodo.

The appellate court, finding merit in the appeal, resolved the issues in favor of the appellants.

Speaking with Daily Gazette correspondent after the judgment, His Royal Highness, Igwe Cyril Anayo Anochili, hailed the judgment as landmark and stated that truth had prevailed.

He paid tribute to the judiciary for being the last hope of the common man and thanked his subjects who stood with him till the end.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted Chioma Okoli bail in the amount of N5 million, following her arraignment on charges of conspiracy and cyberstalking.

On Tuesday, May 28, 2024, Okoli appeared before Hon. Justice Peter Lifu and was subsequently remanded at Suleja Correctional Center. She pleaded not guilty to the charges.

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Her lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, filed a bail application which was reviewed on Friday.

Justice Lifu granted the bail, stipulating that Okoli must provide two sureties.

One of the sureties must be a spouse or a blood relative residing in Abuja with verifiable means of livelihood.

Additionally, Okoli must surrender her passport to the court, if she possesses one.

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Justice Lifu cited Section 365 (5) of the 1999 Constitution, emphasizing the presumption of innocence.

He stated that denying bail would constitute a misuse of judicial discretion and amount to pre-trial punishment.

The trial is scheduled to continue on June 13, 2024.

The charges stem from an incident in 2023 when Eric Omeofia, CEO of Erisco Foods Limited, claimed that a negative review by Okoli on the Nagiko Tomato Mix, alleging it contained too much sugar, harmed his business.

Following her review, Okoli was arrested in September 2023.
Her lawyer argued that her fundamental rights were being violated by the police and Omeofia.

The charges against Okoli include allegations that she, along with others currently at large, used social media to spread false information intended to harm Erisco Foods Limited, causing annoyance, inconvenience, and other negative impacts.

The charges are based on provisions in the Cyber Crime Prohibition Act.

The court document states:

“That you Chioma Edoka Okoli also known as Chioma Egodi Jnr, Happiness Obas now at large, and Don Kashking now at large, on or about September 2023 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired to intentionally send a message via computer and social media, using your Facebook handle Chioma Egodi Jnr, with the intention of instigating people against Erisco Foods Limited, knowing the information to be false and intending to cause annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will, or needless anxiety to Erisco Foods Limited, thereby committing an offense under Section 27 (1) (B) of the Cyber Crime Prohibition Act.

“That you Chioma Edoka Okoli also known as Chioma Egodi Jnr, Happiness Obas now at large, and Don Kashking now at large, on or about September 2023 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, intentionally sent a message via computer and social media, using your Facebook handle Chioma Egodi Jnr, with the intention of instigating against Erisco Foods Limited, knowing the information to be false and intending to cause annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will, or needless anxiety to Erisco Foods Limited, thereby committing an offense under Section 24 (1) (B) of the Cyber Crime Prohibition Act.”

In the wake of the tragic killing of five soldiers in Abia State, the military has vowed to retaliate with overwhelming force.

The soldiers were attacked on Thursday by gunmen enforcing a sit-at-home order issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to commemorate those who died during the Nigerian Civil War of 1967-70.

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In an official statement released on Friday, Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, accused IPOB and its militant wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), of orchestrating the attack.

He emphasized that the military’s response would be both fierce and decisive.

“An overwhelming military response will be brought to bear on the group to ensure their total defeat,” declared Buba.

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Providing details of the incident, Buba explained that the soldiers, stationed at the Obikabia Junction Checkpoint in Obingwa Local Government Area near Aba metropolis, were ambushed by heavily armed militants.

The attackers arrived in three tinted Prado Toyota SUVs and were supported by additional forces from nearby built-up areas.

“This unprovoked attack claimed the lives of five brave soldiers who were deployed to maintain peace and protect the citizens,” Buba lamented.

“The loss of these personnel in the line of duty is deeply mourned by the armed forces.”

An investigation has been launched into the circumstances surrounding the ambush.

Buba highlighted the critical importance of public support in combating terrorist activities, noting that the terrorists exploit local sympathies to launch their attacks.

“The lifeline of any terrorist group is the support they receive from the local population, and this incident is no exception. Winning this war is significantly harder without the backing of the people,” he stated.

Buba reiterated the military’s commitment to responding robustly to such acts of violence.

“We will ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous act are brought to justice. The military’s retaliation will be fierce, and we will apply overwhelming pressure to guarantee the total defeat of IPOB and ESN,” he vowed.