CALABAR, NIGERIA – A High Court in Calabar has ordered the Cross River State Government to pay His Royal Majesty, Dr. Ntui Atue Oru Ojong, N50 million in compensation for illegitimately removing him as the paramount ruler of Etung LGA of Cross River State.
The court also directed the state government to reinstate the monarch with all benefits accrued to him during his suspension, effective immediately.
Dr. Ojong was suspended from his position by the state governor in May 2021 for allegedly misappropriating cocoa funds, without receiving any benefits.
On March 23, 2023, Justice Elias O. Abua presided over the case (suit number HC/96/2022), where HRM Ntui Atue Oru Ojong was the claimant and the Cross River State Government, Attorney General, Commissioner for Justice, and four others were defendants.
Justice Abua ruled that the state government had suspended the claimant without following due process, highlighting that no section of the law authorizes the state government to issue a suspension order on a paramount ruler. Instead, the law only permits the withdrawal of a certificate of recognition from an offending paramount ruler.
The judge stated, “The suspension was done in breach of the provision of sections 5, 17(1), 21, (1) and (2) 27, 28 (2), 29 and 30 (2) of Traditional Rulers Cap T4 Vol.6 Laws of Cross River State 2004.” He added that the suspension was “illegal, unlawful, arbitrary, wrongful, null and void,” as the claimant was never given a fair hearing.
The court further restrained the state government from issuing any certificate of recognition to anyone as paramount ruler of Etung LGA, as HRM Oru Ojong was never dethroned nor had his certificate of recognition withdrawn. Additionally, the court nullified all acts and documents signed by Ntufam Raphael Ekuri Agbor and cautioned him against continuing to parade himself as the acting paramount ruler of Etung LGA.
In an interview at his residence on Monday, the reinstated paramount ruler expressed gratitude for the court’s decision, stating, “I thank God that the court, which is the last hope of the common man, still exists. I have forgiven all those who conspired and framed me up for reasons best known to them.”
He also questioned the accusations of misappropriating cocoa funds, as the state government has begun making payments to beneficiaries. Dr Oscar Ofuka, special adviser to Governor Ben Ayade on Cocoa Development, declined to comment on the matter.
