Court dismisses suit seeking to dethrone Obong of Calabar, ending 16-year legal battle
A 16-year battle legal to dethrone the Obong of Calabar, His Eminence, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi-Otu V, has ended in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, with the suit seeking the dethronement of the Efik Monarch over alleged flaws in his reselection processes, dismissed by a State High Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
The suit which had Etubom Essien Efiok, Etubom Okon Asuquo and Etubom Micah Archibong, as claimants, had prayed the court, in suit number HC/278/2023, to nullify the reselection process.
The defendants in the case were Edidem Abasi-Otu V, Ntiero Edem Ofiong Efiwat, Edem Ita Essien Ededem, Government of Cross River state and Attorney-General of the State.
The court, presided over by Justice Elias Abua, on March 4, 2025, granted the prayers of the applicants and accordingly dismissed the suit.
The judge held that “the application for withdrawal of the suit on which a date has been slated for hearing is one deserving of a dismissal and not striking out.”
“An application for an order of the honourable court granting leave to the claimants/applicants to discontinue the proceedings in this suit wholly and entirely, is granted in part only as the suit is hereby ordered dismissed.
“In the spirit of brotherhood, the court orders that parties bear their costs”, the judge said.
Reacting, Mrs. Nella Andem-Ewa (SAN), lawyer for the Obong of Calabar said “the judiciary remains the hope for all, providing a beacon of justice and fairness in the face of protracted litigation”.
The Supreme Court had in a January 2023 judgment ordered a fresh selection process for the coveted stool of the Obong of Calabar.
Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V was again selected by a conclave of Etuboms (Kingmakers) as Obong of Calabar.
His reselection was accepted by the Cross River State government in November 2023.
However, a faction of the kingmakers rejected this and again headed to the High Court in Calabar to overturn Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu ‘s re-selection.
The dismissal of the fresh suit is expected to bring peace to the Kingdom.
