Peace Returns In Mbosi As Court Orders For Consent Judgment After 16 Years Of Crises

                         

An Ihiala High Court Presided over by Hon Justice B.A. Ogbuli, has ordered for consent judgment in a suit between Barrister Prince Okey- Joe Onuakalusi, (complainant) and 12 indigenes of Mbosi community,(defendants) Ihiala Local Government Area, Anambra State led by Onowu C.A. Ezike.

The plaintiff dragged the defendants to court praying for among other reliefs, a declaration that Oluoha Traditional council or Mbosi Traditional council does not exist in the community, that the actions and orders purportedly taken by the so called Oluoha/ Mbosi Traditional council is null and void, that the Oluoha/ Mbosi traditional council has neither the constitutional power nor consent of the family of late Igwe G.M. Onuakalusi to set up a burial committee or pick a date for the said burial and last Ofala rites of the late monarch.

Prince Onuakalusi also sought for a declaration that neither Oluoha/Mbosi Traditional council has the constitutional power to initiate the process of selection, screening and coronation of a new morarch, and an order that upon the demise of late Igwe, the prince who is the first son automatically becomes regent by virtue of the provisions of the constitution of Mbosi town in line with the customs, tradition and customs of Mbosi.

He further seek for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their agents and privies from further planning, implementing or taking actions towards  the performance of the last ofala rites of the late monarch and also prayed for N10 million damages against the defendants.

After seeking for these reliefs, both counsels to the plaintiff and defendants J.I. Nduka and Arthur Obi Okafor (SAN) respectively met on behalf of their clients and agreed upon consent settlement that the defendants shall be allowed to perform the said last ofala of the late monarch billed for last weekend.

Also that the defendants shall carry out all the decisions of Mbosi as contained in the communiqué of the Oluoha Peace  Resolution Committee of 7^th July 2012, especially the letter of notification of the settlement of the Oluoha issue and sent same to relevant government institutions and council of chiefs and publication made in one of the national dailies and Christian outlook Newspaper.

Both parties also agreed that 10 live cows would be presented to the palace of the late monarch in the morning last weekend and that the plaintiff shall remain the regent of the community and the court would after signing the terms of settlement, make it judgment of the court on presentation to the court last Friday and was made judgment of the court.

The defendants include, Onowu Dr. CA  Ezike, Chief Anthony Obi, Ichie Alloy Obi, Chief Vitus Ifeanyi, Chief Jude Onyedum and Ichie (Capt) J.O.W Onyema, (for themselves and Oluoha/ Mbosi Traditional Council).

Others were, Mr. George Obizulike, Mr. Emeka Obi, Barrister Anthony Emeka Obiajulu and Barrister Marcel Obijagwam (2^nd defendants).

Defendants also include Sir Dona Obi and Ichie Ojewaluana Okwologu (3^rd defendants).

 In their various remarks while expressing satisfaction that peace has eventually returned, the former President General, Engr Chukwudum Onyimadu and Chief Reuben Ozurumba recalled that the crisis started in 1998 when the late monarch was alive adding that the state government earlier urged the community to allow the regent to stay for at least one year but that the community refused then.