By Magnus Effiong
Clan heads and other leaders of the Efut Combined Assembly (ECA), whose certificates were reportedly withdrawn by the Munene of the Efuts, Prof Itam Hogan Itam, have described the said withdrawal of their certificates as jokes taken too far.
Their position was contained in a press statement signed by the Secretary-General of the Efut Combined Assembly, Ndabu Dr Godwin Bassey and five others.
In the statement made available to PillarToday, the leaders questioned the authority of the Professor to take back certificates which he did not give in the first instance, and that the Efut Munene does not have powers to dissolve the registered Efut Combined Assembly which they described as the apex decision making body of the Efut people.
Recall that the Munene was said to have, last week, at the Palace of the Efut Combined Assembly, Anantigha, Calabar South, dissolved the Assembly and withdrawn the certificates issued by the Cross River state government to the said leaders- a move which stirred tension across the length and breadth of the Council area.
“Prof Itam Hogan Itam has no authority to take what he never gave, therefore the so-called withdrawal of certificates is a mirage,” the statement stated in part.
On the dissolution of the Efut Combined Assembly, the Leaders submitted: “Efut Combined Assembly is the highest ruling body of the Efuts. (Refer to the Constitution of the Muri Munene Council of 1974.)
“Besides, Suit No C/183/95 states that ‘it is the prerogative of the Efut Combined Assembly to select a new Munene of the Efuts. We did not select Prof Itam as our Munene.
“Court Order in Suit No HC/102/2020, restrained Prof Itam H Itam and others from interfering with the affairs of Efut Combined Assembly, and barred him from doing anything inconsistence with the rights of the Claimants.
“This Court Order has not been set aside till date, as such, Prof Itam H Itam has no authority to pronounce suspension on any member of the Efut Combined Assembly.
“Suspension of the members of the Efut Combined Assembly by Prof Itam H Itam is illegal. Court Judgement in Suit No: HC/155/2021 had dismissed the Muri Muneneship of Prof Itam. The said Court Judgement has not been set aside.”
On the alleged forceful takeover of the Efut Combined Assembly palace at Anantigha, the press statement said “Prof Itam Hogan Itam filed a lawsuit in Court against the Efut Combined Assembly in Suit No: HC/161/2023 praying the Court to remove the Efut Combined Assembly from the palace at Anantigha. The matter is still pending in Court.
“But on Thursday, June 4, 2024, Prof Itam and cohorts invaded the Palace, destroyed the Assembly signpost and took over the Palace by force thereby committing contempt of court.”
The leaders called on Governor Bassey Otu to critically look into the almost 16 years old succession tussle explaining that “the Reconciliatory Committee set up by the State Governor has never one day invited the Efut Combined Assembly for peace talk.”
