The Nimo community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State has petitioned Governor Chukwuma Soludo against one of his commissioners for allegedly encouraging parties in a dispute to disobey a court ruling on the leadership of the community.
The community accused the Commissioner for Local Government and Town Union Affairs, Hon TonyCollins Nwambune for stoking the crisis in Nimo Community by continuing to recognize Engr Dan Anakpe as President General of the Nimo Town Union despite a court judgment nullifying his election.
A Neni High Court had, on December 18 last year, ruled that the Nimo town union election held in January last year was not done according to the town’s constitution, and directed the conduct of fresh elections by a caretaker committee.
However, the Anakpe group appealed against the judgment but failed to obtain a vacation order.
According to Ogbuefi Frederick Awagu of Nimo Elders Forum, rather than reprimand the Engr Anakpe-led executive for contempt of court, the Commissioner said since the other party had appealed against the judgment, he would not recognize any other person unless a higher court upholds the earlier judgment.
But Awagu has challenged the Commissioner to mandate the other group to produce a vacation order by the court which would absolve them of contempt of court.
He expressed disappointment at the position taken by the Commissioner, claiming that the situation has led to the other party fomenting trouble in Nimo, as well as ridiculing the traditional ruler of the town.
He referred to a recent incident where the Anakpe group refused to allow the royal father of the town to speak at the funeral of the wife of a cabinet member, which, he said, nearly led to a brawl.
“This is a highly provocative act capable of causing a security breach in the town,” said Awagu, who called on the Anambra Governor to wade into the matter and prevail on the Commissioner to do the needful to avert crisis in the town
Nimo community has been embroiled in crisis for over a year now, no thanks to the ‘nefarious’ activities of some elements believed to be working against the traditional ruler and who at every turn attempt to ridicule the throne, as was the case at the funeral where they attempted to stop him from speaking to the bereaved member of his cabinet.
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