The Obong of Calabar, Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu (V), who was sacked on Thursday by the Appeal Court, has been re-elected by the kingmakers, Etubom traditional council.

The Appeal Court sitting in Calabar had ruled for the removal of the monarch, stating that due process was not followed in the Obong’s selection.
The judgment read by Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba and confirmed by Justice Uzo Ndukwe-Anyawu and Onyekachi Otisi upheld the earlier verdict of a lower court that due process was not followed and the selection of the incumbent was null and void.

The Calabar High Court presided over by Justice Obgojor Ogar had in a judgment on January 30, 2012, brought by one of the contestants to the Obong stool, Anthony Ani, declared the process that brought the Obong to the throne as null and void and restrained Otu from participating in any selection for that purpose.

Justice Ogar restrained the Obong from parading himself as the Obong of Calabar until proper election has been held and also restrained the Etubom Traditional Council, from excluding Etubom Anthony Ani and Mbiabo Ikoneto from any election or selection of an Obong.

In an abridged 94 page judgment that lasted for 45 minutes, Justice Garba said, “for the breach of principles of natural justice and the first respondent’s (Etubom Anthony Ani) right to fair hearing, the selection process conducted by the appellants which culminated in the selection and proclamation of the 6th respondent (Otu) by the Etubom’s Council represented by the appellants is hereby set aside.