Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Members of Amanuke Community in Awka North of Anambra State on Tuesday besieged the State High Court, Awka over a lingering leadership tussle in the community.
The people were numbering over five hundred including men and women in their 80s who eagerly awaited the court decision over dispute of the ezeship throne of their community.
Recall that the Anambra State High Court presided over by Justice Charles Okaa, had remanded Chief Dennis Ezebuilo, one of the claimants to the ezeship stool of Amanuke on 15th June 2023 at the Awka Correctional Center for not showing appearance in the case between him and Inspector General of Police since 2022.
Ezebuilo in a charge No A/26c/2022, was accused of unlawfully proclaiming himself the Eze elect.
He was said to have unlawfully claimed the legitimate traditional ruler and also portrayed himself as the Traditional Ruler of Amanuke Community, “offences punishable under section 19 (a) of Traditional Rulers laws No 14 of 2981 of Anambra State.”
Appearing before Anambra High Court two, the lawyer to the defendant, Kenneth Onyekachi, applied for a motion of his bail application which complainant’s lawyer, Mr Stanley Nwaudo, did not object.
Nwaudo said that they were only interested in the full trial of the case, noting that detention should not serve as punishment.
He said the case was serious and could not be treated with levity .
The presiding judge, Hon Justice Okaa, granted the application for his bail at sum of N10 millions with two sureties in like sum.
He said one of sureties should be a civil servant between 14 to 16 grade level while the other should be a resident of Awka with landed property with evidence of ownership and three years tax clearance .
The case was adjourned to 14th July 2023, for the commencement of trial.
Speaking to journalists after the court session, lawyer to Ezebuilo, Barr Onyekachi, said the bail condition was stringent but promised that it would be fulfilled before the end of the day.
