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| Obong of Calabar, His Eminence Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi-Otu V |
The protracted 16-year legal battle over the throne of the Obong of Calabar has finally come to an end, as the High Court in Calabar dismissed a suit seeking to dethrone His Eminence Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi-Otu V.
The suit, which challenged the legitimacy of the re-selection process that affirmed Abasi-Otu as the Obong, was brought by a faction loyal to Etubom Anthony Ani, a contender for the revered stool.
The dispute traces back to a Supreme Court ruling on January 13, 2023, which disqualified Etubom Ani from contesting the throne but allowed Edidem Abasi-Otu to participate in a fresh selection process.
Following the court’s directive, the kingmakers unanimously re-selected Abasi-Otu for the third consecutive time. Despite the Cross River State government’s acceptance of the re-selection in November 2023, the Ani faction rejected the outcome and pursued legal action.
The claimants—Etubom Essien Efiok, Etubom Okon Asuquo, and Etubom Micah Archibong—filed suit number HC/278/2023, seeking to nullify the selection process and declare Etubom Ani as the rightful Obong of Calabar. The defendants included Edidem Abasi-Otu V, Ntiero Edem Ofiong Efiwat, Edem Ita Essien Ededem, the Cross River State government, and the state’s Attorney-General.
In a surprising turn of events in November 2024, Etubom Essien Efiok, the principal claimant, sought to withdraw from the case “in the interest of peace.”
The Ani faction attempted to replace him with Etubom Etim Nsa Ephraim, who was not a member of the Etuboms Council, leading to further legal objections. However, on February 14, 2025, the claimants applied to discontinue the case entirely, requesting “an order granting leave to discontinue the proceedings.”
While the defendants did not object to the discontinuation, they set certain conditions. On March 4, 2025, Justice Elias Abua, presiding over the case, granted the claimants’ request but ordered the dismissal of the suit rather than a mere striking out. Justice Abua emphasized that the application for withdrawal, made after the case had reached an advanced stage, warranted a dismissal.
He also urged the parties to bear their own costs “in the spirit of brotherhood.”
Mrs. Nella Andem-Ewa (SAN), counsel for the Obong of Calabar and other defendants, welcomed the court’s decision, stating that the withdrawal came after the case had reached a critical stage, making dismissal the appropriate outcome. She praised the judiciary as a beacon of justice and fairness in resolving prolonged disputes.
One of the claimants, Etubom Micah Archibong, expressed relief at the discontinuation of the suit, citing the need for peace in Efik land. “The parties have agreed that the matter should not go on anymore. They want to be in peace. As a person, I’m no longer interested in the matter. My name has been used negatively and positively across the board. I think I need some rest,” he said.
The dismissal of the suit marks the end of a contentious chapter in the history of the Efik kingdom, reaffirming Edidem Abasi-Otu V’s position as the Obong of Calabar and paving the way for reconciliation and unity among the Efik people.
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