Court stops paramount rulers from interfering in family heads selection

Ini Billie, Uyo

An Akwa Ibom High Court sitting in Uyo has stopped Paramount Rulers in the state from interfering in the selection of family heads.

Justice Ntong Ntong gave the order on Thursday when he restrained the Paramount Ruler of Itu, Edidem Edet Akpan Inyang from interfering and imposing any person as the family head of Nung Atum family.

Justice Ntong stated this in the case between Chief Ezekiel Effiong Japhet (first claimant) and three other members of Nung Atum Family of Nung Ukot Itam in Itu local government area, and Chief Bassey Udo Edem and Edidem Edet Akpan Inyang, the Paramount Ruler of Itu local government area, as defendants.

The court declared the first claimant, Chief Ezekiel Effiong Japhet, as the family head of Nung Atum family, saying Japhet was duly elected and selected by the family members of Nung Atum family.

The court said under the traditional ruler’s system in Akwa Ibom State, Paramount Rulers are at the zenith of the leadership, as such, the issue of family headship was too infinitesimal for their involvement.

The Judge held that family headship was not a political office, but the duty of a family to select who should lead them according to their laid-down tradition and customs.

The Judge added that 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.

The court explained that 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, the 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 recognise the Chairman of the Village Council, Presidents or Chairmen of the Village Youths Council, and advised the Akwa Ibom State Government to be cautious of the new trend.

The court stated that the practice was becoming a trend that was affecting almost all the communities in the state, resulting in restiveness that was creating parallel administrations in the affected villages.

“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,” Justice Ntong held.