By Godwin Chukwumaechi, Port Harcourt
The traditional ruler of Agum-Bukuma Kingdom in Rivers State, His Royal Majesty (HRM) Precious Elekima has urged the Rivers State Government to be careful of the antics of people trying to drag the government into a chieftancy tussle already adjudicated on by a court of competent jurisdiction.
The royal father who made the call via a statement he signed and made available to journalists on Monday in Port Harcourt commended the Rivers State government for maintaining law and order in the state and upholding the constitution of Nigeria in all its dealings.
The paramount ruler of Agum-Bukuma Kingdom enjoined the state government to continuously adhere to the principles of separation of powers as enshrined in the constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria urging the state government to be wary of antics of desperate people who are trying to circumvent the constitutional provisions of the court in the case, suit no. DHC/32/CS/2023 filed by HRH Stephen Tobins Vs Chief Precious Elekima which was dismissed on the 11th of October 2024.
“The state government is kindly obliged to maintain the rule of law and resist unnecessary persuasion to lure it into going against the nation’s constitution in the discharge of their duties including the Agum-Bukuma kingship”, HRM Elekima urged.
He explained that the former king having lost and failing to file a stay of execution and or appeal within the 90 days of right of appeal has no option than to accept the verdict and give peace a chance.
He said; “the tussle had gone to court, rather than applying a more civil approach, the side that lost in court seemed to be involving the police in a matter that is purely civil and some desperate handful politicians who believe that they are an appeal court”.
The king added that the stool tussle was between the HRH Stephen Tobins versus Chief Precious Elekima as he was then in the court suit no. DHC/32/CS/2023 before the Justice Okogbule Gbasam and the case dismissed against HRH Stephen Tobins on the 11th of October 2024.
He stressed that it was the judgement delivered by the Justice Gbasam on October 11, 2024 in his favour (HRM Precious Elekima) that paved way for his installation as the King of Bukuma on October 12, 2024.
According to him the case having been dismissed by the court, instead of HRH Tobins appealing the Gbasam judgement, he decided to take a wrong approach alleging that the police was harassing him.
He said that the level of police intimidation made him to feel that his life was being threatened and therefore leaving him with no option than to write a petition against the police.
“We have filed a fundamental right process against the Police in suit number PHC/3736/FHR/2024 between HRM Precious Elekima vs Inspector General of Police, The Commissioner of Police Rivers State and others.
‘’It is sad that the Nigerian Police is involved in a pure civil matter that was adjudicated by a competent court of jurisdiction,’’ he said.
