From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
The High Court sitting in Owerri, the Imo State capital has reaffirmed that Chief Gabriel C. Nwosu is the duly identified and elected traditional ruler of Obiangwu Autonomous Community in Ngor Okpala LGA of Imo State.
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The court presided over by Hon. Justice I. M. Njaka, in its ruling on 24th July, 2025 in Suit No. HOW/562/2018 dismissed the case filed by Chief James Diala, Chief Fidelis Okere and Joseph Ugo challenging Chief Nwosu’s claim to the royal stool of Obiangwu.
Justice Njaka held that the earlier ruling of the Imo State High Court in Suit No. HOW/383/2014 which declared Chief Gabriel Nwosu stands as a subsisting judgement of a competent court.
The Judge said, “The judgement in Suit No. HOW/383/2014… remains a valid and subsisting judgement of a court of competent jurisdiction. The recognition of Chief Gabriel C. Nwosu as Eze of Obiangwu Autonomous Community by that judgement creates a legal reality that this court cannot ignore.
“Consequently, I make order of DISMISSAL. This suit(by James Diala and Co) is hereby dismissed on grounds of constructive res jidicataand in the interest of preventing conflicting judicial decisions on the same traditional stool. I so hold.”
It would be recalled that another State High Court sitting in Owerri presided over by Hon. Justice B.C. Iheka had in an earlier ruling in Suit No. HOW/383/2014, on Friday 30th September, 2022, nullified the purported recognition of Samuel Ordu by then Governor Rochas Okorocha.
Justice Iheka further affirmed and declared Chief Gabriel Nwosu as the validly identified Eze of Obiangwu in line with the Imo State Traditional Rulers and Autonomous Community Law No.6 of 2006(as amended).
Meanwhile, the latest judgement by Justice Njaka’s Court has continued to elicit reactions as eminent personalities of Obiangwu have applauded it as a courageous judicial pronouncement that should lay to rest the protracted Ezeship battle.
Chief Charles Akushie, Nicholas Amakor and Dr Perry Njoku who spoke to newsmen urged the public to ignore the deliberate efforts of some unscrupulous elements peddling falsehood about the settled litigation.
They therefore appealed to Governor Hope Uzodimma to accord royal recognition to Chief Gabriel Nwosu as the Eze of Obiangwu Autonomous Community without any further delay; based on the recent judgement.
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