The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Friday dethroned Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, the Obong of Calabar, Cross River State. According to the South-South News Online, the Supreme Court’s verdict was on Friday 13th January 2023. Follows years of legal tussle. In the judgment written by Justice Amina Ahgid and read by Justice Akomaye Agim, the court ordered the kingmakers and Traditional Rulers’ Council to immediately summon a fresh selection process to produce another Obong of Calabar. According to the court, the fresh selection should be held by the 2002 constitution of the Palace. This newspaper reports that the deposed Obong is still qualified to contest and this will be the fourth time he had to step down for the selection exercise. This is the first time in the history of the throne that the apex court will dethrone an Obong. The Obong of Calabar is a first-class king in Nigeria.
