A High Court sitting in Umunze, Orumba South Judicial Division and presided over by Hon. Justice Jude Obiora, has decried the issuance of a certificate of recognition to one Chief Timothy Okwudiri Ifurunwa as the monarch-elect of Ihitte community in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Ifurunwa was issued the certificate, alongside other elected traditional rulers, on January 14, 2025, by the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, despite contestations arising from his election, which gave birth to multiple court cases.
While High Chief Sampson Ikechukwu Okoli, Raymond Okoli, and Mr. Emeka Onyeanusi, acting on behalf of Umuezeoma Kindred, Umuezeawuru Village, are contesting that the kingship should have gone to them by right, members of the Ihitte Traditional Council allege they were bypassed in the election by a small cabal in the community, even though they are the kingmakers.
During a court sitting in Umunze on Tuesday, the judge contended that it was wrong to have issued a certificate to Ifurunwa while the legitimacy of his election was still being determined by the court.
When Hon. Justice Jude Obiora learned that the defendants had planned to hold a coronation ceremony on January 3, 2026, he remarked: “Why was a certificate issued in the first place, when the matter is still in court? It is this lawlessness that has kept us where we are today.”
Counsel to the Anambra State government, Barr. Ifeanyi Oguejiofor, who was in court, pleaded that he could not file some processes involved in the matter due to ill health while seeking more time.
Counsel to the fourth to seventh defendants, representing the traditional council of Ihitte community, Barr. Ndubuisi Onyeakpa, told the court that his clients were also concerned about the January 3 coronation process, saying it would render their matter nugatory, and requested that the court order Ifurunwa and his supporters to stay action.
The court, however, adjourned to January 29 to ensure that all processes in the matter had been filed before proceeding.
Oguejiofor, in an interview with journalists, said: “The summary of what happened in court today is that the matter did not proceed because all processes have not yet been filed and brought before the court, so an adjournment was sought.
“As for the scheduled coronation, it was not the issue before the court because it was not up for determination. What came up today were the motions pending before the court, and the court didn’t make pronouncements on them because all processes, either for or against, have not been filed. That was why the matter was adjourned.”
The plaintiff in the matter, High Chief Sampson Ikechukwu Okoli, expressed happiness with what he called the uprightness of the judge in condemning the issuance of the certificate by the state government to a man whose election was still being contested.
He said: “We have been on this matter for a long time. I’m happy that the judge saw what was wrong and pronounced it as such. He said the matter should have been suspended and the coronation put on hold because the matter was still in court.
“With what the court has said, I know they will not go ahead with the coronation because their representatives in court today will inform them. These are people who usually act on their own without recourse to anyone, but today they will hear what the court has said, and I doubt if they will continue.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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