As 15 Paramount Rulers joined to boost the suit, both contending parties are opting for an out-of-court settlement to thrash out the lingering controversy and litigation surrounding the amended Traditional Rulers Law, Cap 155, Laws of the Akwa Ibom State, 2022.
The law hurriedly passed by Akwa Ibom House of Assembly into law and turned into Act by the state governor with the speed of light provides for the appointment of Oku Ibom Ibibio to remain in perpetuity as the President-General of Akwa Ibom State Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers.
Though the law provides for appointment of Vice President 1 and Vice President 11 from Annang and Oro extractions, some ethnic nationalities feel aggrieved that the law accords recognition to stratification of tribes, thus negating the Willinks Ethnic Minorities Rights of 1958.
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Among the defendants are the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Akwa Ibom State Government, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Speaker, House of Assembly, the Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State and Ntenyin Solomon Etuk, the Paramount Ruler of Nsit Ubium Local Government Area.
The plaintiffs are eight Paramount Rulers of Annang extraction, Paramount Rulers of Urueffong Oruko; Okobo; Mbo; Eastern Obolo, Ibeno and those of Oron and Udung Uko Local Government Areas, who were joined in the suit at Thursday’s proceedings.
At the hearing of the case on Thursday, 23/11/2023, counsel to the plaintiffs, Barrister Ekpenyong Ntekim, a former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Akwa Ibom State leading Barrister Jumbo Udom and five others made an oral application to the Court for leave to explore settlement out of Court and for a short adjournment for parties to report settlement.
Bar. Ntekim said his application was premised on the desire of parties to restore and maintain peace in the state.
But, the Attorney-General of the State and Commissioner for Justice, Uko Udom, SAN represented by the Director of Civil Litigation, Barrister Bassey Ekanem was not satisfied with the oral application.
Although e confirmed that the State Attorney General and the former Attorney General, Barrister Ntekim had met with the State Governor Umo Eno to broker a peaceful resolution of the dispute, he argued that the plaintiffs ought to have made a written application in line with the terms of settlement.
The Court presided over by Justice Archibong Archibong overruled the objection of the Attorney General’s representative, citing the case of Habib Bank Plc and Lodigiani Nigeria Limited reported in 2010, where the Court of Appeal said trial Courts have a duty to encourage parties to settle disputes out of the Court.
The trial Judge, Justice Archibong said one thing that stands out from counsel arguments was their desire for peace and settlement of the dispute and that the form or manner of application should not be a stumbling block.
Counsel to the plaintiffs, Barristers Ekpenyong Ntekim and Uyobong Jumbo Udom who spoke to journalists, expressed optimism that the dispute will be resolved soonest, given the positive disposition of the State Government.
They expressed their gratitude to the Court for granting the parties leave to explore settlement out of Court.
The matter has been adjourned to December 14.
