High court stops Eze Ndigbo installation in Edo

AGENE GODWIN,  Benin

A Benin high court has ordered the Edo commissioner of Police, Mr Chris Ezike, to stop the installation of one Chief Luke Abbas as the Eze Ndigbo of Edo State.

Justice A. Edodo-Eruaga gave the order following  an exparte motion filed by Chief Fecus Ezekwere and two others on behalf of the Igbo community union in Benin city.

In an enrolment order signed by the high court assistant director on Monday in Benin, the court granted an interim injunction restraining Abbas from presenting himself to Eze Nwosu Ibe for installation as Eze Ndigbo of Edo State.

The Judge also restrained Ibe and his agents from installing Abbas as Eze Ndigbo of Edo State pending the determination of the motion on notice.

The court additionally gave an order of interim injunction restraining the state commissioner of police from “permitting or allowing Ibe and Abbas to assemble at Abbas’s residence for the purpose of installing him as Eze Ndigbo of Edo State.’’

Edodo-Eruaga adjourned the case to Dec. 22 for hearing of the motion on notice.